Artwork
Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso)
Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created around 1750, the painting serves as a visual representation of this specific theological grouping, emphasizing the unity of the three deities.
The artwork depicts the Hindu deities Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balarama positioned within an arch. This triad represents the central divine figures of the Jagannath tradition, where Jagannath is the primary deity flanked by his sibling deities, Subhadra and Balarama. The composition places these figures under an architectural arch, a common motif in devotional imagery that frames the sacred assembly.
Created around 1750, the painting serves as a visual representation of this specific theological grouping, emphasizing the unity of the three deities.
History & Provenance
Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso) is a painting by an unknown artist dated to circa 1750. The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1973 and is recorded under accession number 1973.102.b. No earlier ownership, commission details, or creation history are documented in the available sources.
The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, located in Cleveland. It is cataloged under the accession number 1973.102.b. The institution lists the work's inception date as 1750. No specific exhibition history for this object is provided in the available records.
Overview
The work titled Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso) is a painted panel that presents three prominently featured figures beneath a red architectural arch. The composition is dominated by vivid hues, red, green, yellow and pink, contrasted against a dark, vine‑filled background edged in gold. The painting’s surface shows signs of age, with faded pigments, yet the original palette remains striking.
Technique & Style
Executed in a flat, decorative manner, the painting employs bold color blocks and minimal shading. The use of pink, flower‑like motifs with yellow centers suspended above the figures adds a decorative flourish typical of South Asian temple art. The dark background with intertwined green vines provides a patterned backdrop that frames the central trio.
Context
Within the broader tradition of Hindu religious painting, depictions of Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balarama often appear in temple settings or as portable devotional objects. The arch motif and the vibrant palette align with visual conventions used to convey sacred space and divine authority in regional artistic practices.
Artist & collection
- Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso)
Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha
Balbhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha
Krishna with Radha and Two Attendants (recto); Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso)
Krishna with Radha and Two Attendants (recto); Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama in an Arch (verso)
Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra
Balbhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha
Jagannatha Trio (verso)
Balbhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha
