Akrura and Krishna
1520
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1520
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Akrura and Krishna is a 1520 paint by Unknown, a Mannerism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a busy scene with bright colors. On the right, a blue-skinned man with a crown dances while holding a fan. Next to him, a seated man in a red robe watches, with two other men standing nearby. On the left, three men in red and gold outfits stand near a dark green background. Above them, a row of buildings with domes and birds is painted in gold and red. The blue-skinned dancer is likely a god from Hindu stories. The painting looks old, with some edges worn away. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
The painting, rendered in opaque watercolour on paper, originates from a dispersed Bhagavata Purana manuscript produced around 1520. It portrays Akrura presenting the Shyamantaka jewel to Krishna within a palace interior featuring Sultanate architectural elements, with the two groups of figures set against contrasting red and green backgrounds. Krishna, seated on a patterned bolster at the feet of King Ugrasena, receives the jewel while Akrura stands to the left holding it, accompanied by courtiers and attendants, all dressed in period costume except for Krishna, who wears a crown. The…
Read the full account in the museum source.
