Artwork
Radha and Krishna Embracing, Leaf from a Gita Govinda
Radha and Krishna Embracing, Leaf from a Gita Govinda is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting, titled Radha and Krishna Embracing, constitutes a leaf from a Gita Govinda manuscript.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work belongs to a set of miniature paintings produced around 1650 in the Indian tradition, and is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.
The leaf illustrates a devotional scene in which Radha and Krishna are shown embracing, taken from the Gita Govinda. The composition centers on Krishna, emphasizing his role as the beloved deity in Vaishnavite tradition. The work belongs to a set of miniature paintings produced around 1650 in the Indian tradition, and is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.
Its imagery conveys the intimate relationship between the divine lover and his consort, a recurrent theme in Indian miniature art.
History & Provenance
Radha and Krishna Embracing is a miniature leaf taken from a Gita Govinda manuscript, painted circa 1650 in India and attributed to an unknown artist. It depicts the divine couple Krishna and Radha in an intimate embrace and is classified as a painting. The leaf entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, where it is recorded under accession number 1962.241.
No documentation indicates a specific commission or earlier owners prior to its acquisition by the museum, and no exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
This painting, titled Radha and Krishna Embracing, constitutes a leaf from a Gita Govinda manuscript. The composition centers on the intimate embrace of the divine lovers, Radha and Krishna, while a female musician is visible in the background. The artwork is distinguished by its rich decorative elements and a sophisticated use of color, creating a visually engaging scene that captures a moment of profound connection.
Technique & Style
The painting exhibits a meticulous attention to detail, evident in the intricate patterns adorning the figures' garments and jewelry. Krishna is depicted with a crown and ornaments, while Radha wears a richly patterned sari and jewelry. The background is rendered in dark tones, featuring architectural elements such as a doorway and a window, which contribute to the scene's spatial depth. The overall composition is characterized by its vibrant color scheme and decorative richness, typical of manuscript illumination.
Artist & collection
