Page 174 - Christie's Inidian and HImalayan Works of Art, March 2019
P. 174
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN COLLECTION
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A PICCHVAI OF SHRI NATHJI AMONGST COWS This picchvai depicts Krishna’s everyday activities as a blissful cowherd
NORTH INDIA, RAJASTHAN, 19TH CENTURY in Nathwara, Rajasthan. Gopashtami, a celebration of Krishna’s life as a
Opaque pigments on textile cowherd, is symbolized in the form of the central scene, which represents
55 x 54º in. (139.7 x 137.8 cm.) Shri Nathji summoning the cattle with his melodious tunes. The topmost
scenes represent Krishna’s unique relationship with the gopas (cowherds),
$6,000-8,000
gopis (milkmaids), and cattle in the middle of the forest, where gopis engage in
Daan Lila or taking of the toll during Ekadashi or eleventh day of autumn. The
interesting trapezoidal shape of the picchvai and the bright border with foral
motif in bright colors resemble the shape of the main gates of Shri Nathji’s
haveli or palace.
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