Page 190 - 2019 September 11th Christie's New York Chiense Art Himalayan bronzes and art

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A PICCHVAI DEPICTING A CITY MAP
OF NATHDWARA
NORTHWEST INDIA, RAJASTHAN, NATHDWARA,
19TH CENTURY
124Ω x 82¬ in. (316.2 x 209.9 cm.)

$12,000-18,000

The present painting on textile depicts the city of
Nathdwara, the home of and most important temple town
devoted to the worship of Shrinathji, a form of Krishna and
the central deity of the Pushti Marg sect. The layout of the
city is typical for a Rajasthani palace town, with numerous
gates painted with confronted elephants, winding alleys,
and gleaming white walls.
At the center of the town is the icon devoted to Shrinathji,
with worshippers and cows gathered in the main square
before him in celebration of the Govardhana puja. To the
left of the main shrine, the tree-lined allée leading to a
pavilion represents the Moti Mahal, the private residence
of the local ruler, which was built in 1861.

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