Page 159 - September 20th 2021, Indian and Himalayan Art Christie's NYC

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A PAINTING OF VARAHA
INDIA, RAJASTHAN, KOTAH,
18TH CENTURY
Folio 10√ x 8Ω in. (27.6 x 21.6 cm.)
Image 8æ x 6º in. (22.2 x 15.9 cm.)
$8,000-12,000

473
A PICCHVAI OF KRISHNA AND RADHA
AMIDST THE LOTUSES
INDIA, RAJASTHAN, 19TH CENTURY
89æ x 64º in. (228 x 163.2 cm.)
$25,000-35,000

Kamal ki Picchvai, or lotus picchvai, are
hung in Pushtimarg havelis during summer
months to create a cool atmosphere in the
shrine of Shri Nathji. The backgrounds of
lotus flowers help devotees to visualize the
banks of the river Yamuna where Krishna
grew up. In the present image, Krishna is
seated upon a throne, gazing lovingly at
Radha, who stands before him with blue
skin. With its meandering lotus stems and
the numerous bees flying from flowers to
leaves, the present painting recalls the works
of the ashtachap poets in which Krishna is
compared to a bee and his beloved Radha
to lotuses.
The present work compares favorably with a
well-known, but smaller, lotus picchvai from
the collection of Amit Ambalal, see M. Ghose
Gates of the Lord: The Tradition of Krishna
Painting, Chicago, p. 98, cat. 38. A large
472
20th century lotus picchvai sold at Christie’s
London 26 May 2016, lot 81 for £43,750.

END OF SALE

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