Artwork
Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, from a Bhagavata Purana

Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, from a Bhagavata Purana is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting, titled Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, originates from a Bhagavata Purana manuscript.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work titled Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, from a Bhagavata Purana, is classified as a painting and was produced in 1730.
The work titled Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, from a Bhagavata Purana, is classified as a painting and was produced in 1730. It forms part of a manuscript held in the Cleveland Museum of Art, which identifies it as a painting depicting Krishna. The sources record the inception date as 1730-01-01 and note the artwork's collection and location, but they do not specify the materials, support, handling procedures, condition, or detailed formal and stylistic characteristics.
History & Provenance
The Cleveland Museum of Art holds the painting Celebrations of Krishna’s Birth, which entered the collection in 1988 under accession number 1988.70. The work is dated to circa 1730, aligning with the museum’s recorded inception date for the piece. Its prior ownership history is not documented in the accessible provenance records, and the artist remains unattributed.
The work titled Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, from a Bhagavata Purana, is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is accessioned under the identifier 1988.70. Its creation dates to 1730, as recorded in both and. The painting belongs to the museum's collection of Indian miniature works and is displayed in the South Asian art galleries, though no exhibition records are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This painting, titled Celebrations of Krishna's Birth, originates from a Bhagavata Purana manuscript. It depicts a vibrant scene of five male figures engaged in festivities. The composition is set against a luminous golden background, highlighting the figures' bright attire and the celebratory atmosphere.
The artwork captures a moment of joyous communal expression, characteristic of narratives surrounding the divine figure of Krishna.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork illustrates a pivotal event from the Bhagavata Purana, a significant Hindu scripture detailing the life of Krishna. Specifically, it portrays the jubilant celebrations marking Krishna's birth. The figures contribute to this festive mood through music and dance; one plays a long horn, another drums, and a third holds a stringed instrument.
A man with a fan and another with a shield further populate the scene, emphasizing the communal and ceremonial nature of the event.
Artist & collection










