Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha thumbnail 1
Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha thumbnail 2
+1
images
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha

Painting
ca. 1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting, watercolour and tin alloy on paper, the Jagannath trio, consisting of Jagannatha painted black as an alternative form of Krishna, Lord of the Universe, in the company of his brother Balabhadra and their little sister Subhadra in the middle, are shown against a yellow background. All three are wearing red and blue striped garlands with detailed silver jewellery designs (executed in tin alloy).

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBalabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in watercolour and tin alloy on paper
Brief description
Painting, Jagannath trio, watercolour and tin alloy on paper, Kalighat, Kolkata, ca. 1860
Physical description
Painting, watercolour and tin alloy on paper, the Jagannath trio, consisting of Jagannatha painted black as an alternative form of Krishna, Lord of the Universe, in the company of his brother Balabhadra and their little sister Subhadra in the middle, are shown against a yellow background. All three are wearing red and blue striped garlands with detailed silver jewellery designs (executed in tin alloy).
Dimensions
  • Width: 11in
Content description
The Jagannath trio, consisting of Jagannatha painted black as an alternative form of Krishna, Lord of the Universe, in the company of his brother Balabhadra and their little sister Subhadra in the middle, are shown against a yellow background. All three are wearing red and blue striped garlands with detailed silver jewellery designs.
Style
Object history
Historical significance: Calcutta was the capital of British India from 1833-1912. By the 1830s, artists had started to arrive from rural villages in Bengal and began to produce paintings that reflected the local history, mythology, customs and conflics of a colonised society. These artists are known for their use of brilliant colour, simplified images and swift brushstrokes that became the hallmark of Kalighat painting in the 19th and early 20th century.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic references
  • Sinha, Suhashini, and Panda, C, eds. Kalighat Paintings from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2012. ISBN 1851776656. p. 52 and pps. 8-9 (detail)
  • Kalighat paintings : a catalogue and introduction / by W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1971 Number: 0112900291 : Pl. no. 11, cat. no. 6, i: p.52.
Collection
Accession number
IS.75-1959

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 31, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest