Artwork
Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala”
Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala” is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work dates to 1770 and is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.
The painting depicts Krishna with a consort on a palace balcony, accompanied by musicians, embodying the Vukharo Ragaputra of the Bhairav raga within the Boston Ragamala series; the scene combines divine narrative with courtly music, illustrating how ragamala art represents a musical mode through human and divine figures. The composition reflects the devotional context of the genre, using the palace setting and musical accompaniment to suggest both temporal order and spiritual resonance. The work dates to 1770 and is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.
History & Provenance
Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala”, is a miniature painting dated to 1770. The work is attributed to an unknown artist, recorded in catalog data by a specific identifier. It is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is listed under accession number 2018.179.
The painting’s creation history is documented only through these provenance records, which note its presence in the museum’s holdings and its classification as an 18th‑century Indian artwork.
The painting Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala”, is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is accessioned as 2018.179. The work, dated 1770, is classified as a painting and attributed to an unknown artist. It forms part of the museum’s collection of Indian miniature paintings and is associated with the Ragamala series that depicts musical modes personized as deities.
The piece entered the museum’s holdings in the early twenty‑first century and remains in the institution’s South Asian art department.
Overview
This painting, titled Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, is part of a larger collection known as the “Boston Ragamala.” It captures a lively scene at dusk on a palace balcony, where two main figures are seated beneath an elaborate canopy. Below them, musicians are actively performing, underscoring the artwork's central musical theme.
Technique & Style
The painting utilizes a vibrant array of colors, with striking reds, greens, and golds illuminating the palatial environment. The sky transitions subtly from a soft pink to a deeper twilight, effectively conveying the evening atmosphere. Figures are rendered with attention to detail, such as a musician in green holding a stringed instrument, while an inscription in an indigenous script at the top integrates narrative elements directly into the visual composition.
Context
As a component of the “Boston Ragamala” series, this painting is one of several works that visually represent specific ragas, or melodic frameworks, from Indian classical music. Ragamala paintings functioned as both memory aids and aesthetic expressions, translating intricate musical concepts into accessible visual forms, frequently featuring deities or royal figures in settings that evoke the raga's characteristic mood.
Artist & collection
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