Artwork
Brahma Hides the Cowherds and the Calves in the Cave, page from a Bhagavata Purana
Brahma Hides the Cowherds and the Calves in the Cave, page from a Bhagavata Purana is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1762 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting, titled "Brahma Hides the Cowherds and the Calves in the Cave," is a folio from a larger manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on the act of hiding, symbolizing the protective and transformative power of the divine in response to the devotion of the cowherds.
This 1762 religious painting illustrates a narrative episode from the Bhagavata Purana, specifically depicting the moment when the deity Brahma conceals the cowherds and their calves within a cave. As a work of religious art, the scene visualizes a pivotal mythological event where divine intervention alters the natural order to facilitate a spiritual revelation. The iconography centers on the act of hiding, symbolizing the protective and transformative power of the divine in response to the devotion of the cowherds.
The composition serves to represent the theological theme of Krishna's supremacy, as the concealment of the herdsmen sets the stage for the subsequent manifestation of the cosmic form.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1762, a date established as the inception of the work. It is classified as a religious painting and forms a single page from a Bhagavata Purana manuscript, depicting the narrative of Brahma hiding the cowherds and the calves in the cave. The work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1965.335.
The artist of the page remains unidentified, and the sources provide no further information about its commission, earlier ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum.
The painting Brahma Hides the Cowherds and the Calves in the Cave, page from a Bhagavata Purana, is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1965.335. Its creation is dated to 1762, as recorded in the internal catalogue and corroborated by the museum’s provenance data. The work belongs to the religious art genre and is classified as a painting.
Exhibition records are not referenced in the available documentation, indicating that the piece has not been listed in publicly noted exhibitions within the supplied sources.
Overview
This painting, titled "Brahma Hides the Cowherds and the Calves in the Cave," is a folio from a larger manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana. It illustrates a specific event from this ancient Hindu text. The artwork depicts a divine figure soaring above a landscape where other characters are situated within a cave, creating a dynamic narrative scene that captures a moment of mythological storytelling.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a vibrant palette to convey the narrative. A blue sky with soft white clouds contrasts with the warm browns and greens of the terrestrial elements, including a prominent rocky cliff. The figures' bright clothing and the bird's distinctive red feet stand out against these earthy tones, drawing attention to the central characters.
The composition effectively uses scale and vertical arrangement to create a sense of depth and dramatic tension within the storytelling.
Artist & collection
Sugriva challenges his brother Vali, King of the Forest Dwellers, to a duel, folio 10 from the Kishkindha Kanda (Book of Kishkindha) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)
Vishnu Battles Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Markandeya Purana
Illustrations to Life of Dhurva Maharaj: #22 Dhurva reaches the mountain of gold where 7 sacred Rishis who are called the Seven Stars receive him
Vishnu Battles Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Markandeya Purana
Durga in Combat with the Bull, Mahishasura
Durga Slaying Mahisha
Descent of the Ganges
Durga and Mahishasura
