Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a watercolor painting by the Mughal Painting artist Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana. It dates from 1562 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Women in bright saris gather near a riverbank, one holding a deer, while Krishna watches from the trees. The colors stay rich and the ink lines crisp. The Master of the Isarda Bhagavata Purana built the whole mood in 1562 from layers of thin, transparent glazing, which makes the paper glow under light.
Subject & Meaning
Together, these elements illustrate the divine-human intimacy and harmonious order that the text and visual tradition associate with Krishna's mythic life.
The painting depicts Krishna standing beside a river, cradling a deer in his arms, while a woman stands nearby. The river underscores the pastoral setting central to Krishna's divine play, while the deer signals his compassionate mastery over nature, a theme resonant with the Bhagavata Purana's portrayal of his pastoral līlā. The woman's presence likely represents a gopī, a cowherd companion, evoking the devotional bond between Krishna and his devotees.
Together, these elements illustrate the divine-human intimacy and harmonious order that the text and visual tradition associate with Krishna's mythic life.
Technique & Style
Created in 1562, this work is executed in opaque watercolor and ink applied to a paper support. Attributed to the Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana, the piece demonstrates the specific handling of these traditional media to depict figures such as Krishna, a woman, a deer, and a river. The combination of opaque pigments and ink on paper defines the material foundation of the artwork, allowing for the detailed rendering of its narrative subjects within the stylistic conventions of Bhagavata Purana manuscript painting.
History & Provenance
Untitled, a 1562 opaque watercolor and ink painting on paper, was produced by the Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana, an Indian artist active in the mid-16th century. The work illustrates Krishna alongside a deer, a river, and a woman, reflecting devotional themes of the Bhagavata Purana. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No specific accession number, commission details, or prior provenance documentation is available in the consulted sources.
Overview
This "Untitled" work, created around 1562 by the Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana, is rendered in opaque watercolor and ink on paper. It captures a serene moment by a riverbank, featuring Krishna observing from a grove while women, dressed in vibrant saris, interact with a deer. The painting's religious subject matter is conveyed through a composition that evokes a sense of quiet vitality.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana
Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana is the conventional name for an anonymous North Indian painter responsible for a celebrated illustrated manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana made around 1560 to 1565 in the Delhi-Agra region.


















