The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 26, 2024

Fertility Worship of Krishna

Fertility Worship of Krishna

c. 1720–25
gum tempera on paper
Page: 29.2 x 21.6 cm (11 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.); Image: 23.6 x 16.6 cm (9 5/16 x 6 9/16 in.)
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.97
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Krishna is holding a rattle in his right hand.

Description

The painting shows Krishna being worshipped under a pipal tree by a group of Shaivite devotees, recognized by the horizontal marks on their foreheads. Krishna is clad in a yellow Mughal jama, or belted Central Asian tunic, instead of the wrapped Indian lower garment (dhoti) traditionally associated with Krishna. The tree has been decorated with garlands and scarves to attract auspicious and divine benevolence.
  • ?–2018
    Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer, Beverly Hills, CA, partial sale and gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2018–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022).
  • {{cite web|title=Fertility Worship of Krishna|url=false|author=|year=c. 1720–25|access-date=26 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.97