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Illustration to the Harivamsa, Mughal, c. 1590, opaque water colour and gold on paper - Krishna kills Raja Kansa

Krishna kills Raja Kansa

  • Object:

    Illustration to the Harivamsa, Mughal, c. 1590, opaque water colour and gold on paper

  • Date:

    ca.1590 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Opaque water colour and gold on paper

  • Credit Line:

    Bequeathed by the Hon. Dame Ada Macnaghten

  • Museum number:

    IS.3-1970

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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The Mughal emperor Akbar had the main Sanskrit texts translated into Persian, the language of the court and of the elite of the empire. This page is from a translation of the Harivamsa, the life of Krishna appended to the Mahabharata, and was done in about 1590. In this episode Krishna kills the evil king of Mathura, Kansa, first dragging him by the hair from his throne.

Date

ca.1590 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Opaque water colour and gold on paper

Dimensions

Height: 43.8 cm page, Width: 32.4 cm page, Height: 32.3 cm painting, Width: 20.3 cm painting

Object history note

Bequeathed by the Hon. Dame Ada Macnaghten

Historical context note

Akbar had the major Sanskrit texts of the Hindu traditino translated into Persian and these were then illustrated by the court artists. The Harivamsa is an epic devoted to Krishna and appended to the Mahabharata

Descriptive line

painting

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224.p.70, no.47.
Robert Skelton, "Mughal Paintings from Harivamsa Manuscript", V&A Museum Yearbook, no. 2, 1970.

Production Note

the borders were added later, probably in Lucknow in the 18th century

Categories

Paintings

Collection code

SSEA

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Qr_O187772
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