Page 106 - ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND INDIAN WORLDS Carpets, Ceramics Objects, Christie's London Oct..27, 2022

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SIX PAINTINGS OF SRI NATHJI
KOTA, RAJASTHAN, INDIA, 1830-40
The Vallabha sect believe in the ritual worship of images, svarups, which
Opaque pigments heightened with gold and silver on paper, Sri Nathji dressed totally and forever incorporate the essence of the god. Sri Nathji is the pre-
for various festivals against different coloured grounds, each set within a eminent example of self-created images (nidhi-svarups) of the Lord Krishna.
gradated blue border and red margin with white rules, five of the six with a Left arm raised, holding aloft Mount Govardhan thus protecting the people of
line of white devanagari above, the reverse of each plain, five of the six with a Braj from a storm sent by Indra, the black stone image of Sri Nathji is housed
fly-leaf
The largest 7¬ x 4æin. (19.4 x 12cm.); folio (23 x 15.2cm.) (6) in a temple in Nathdwara. The image is daily washed and dressed, often
multiple times a day, according to festivals throughout the year, hence the six
£10,000-15,000 US$12,000-17,000 different paintings in the present lot. In 1719 Maharao Bhim Singh received
€12,000-17,000
an image of Bri Nathji, similar in pose to Sri Nathji, becoming a devotee of
the Vallabha. Sri Nathji holds particular importance for Kota and it is difficult
INSCRIPTIONS: to distinguish Kota or Nathdwara paintings of the image. It was Joachim
1. Shri nathji ko Braj nathji ko pata uchhav ko singar hei [Shrinathji dressed as
Bautze who made the attribution in 1987 who believed the deep red borders
Brajnathji on Pata Utsava(festival)]; 2. pavitray kadsi ko uchhav hei [Shrinathji
with double white rule and inscriptions in white nagarisuggest similarities
dressed on the festival of Pavitra Ekadasi]; 3. Mangla in Winter (first darshan
to Kishor Singh’s own set of paintings (J. Bautze, Indian Miniature Paintings,
after Shrinathji is given bath); 4. Shri nathji ko Pavitra Ekadasi ko singar hei
c.1590-1850, Amsterdam, 1987, p.66).
[Shrinathji dressed on the festival of Pavitra Ekadasi ]; 5. Shri nathji ko hori
dandi ko uchhav hei [Shrinathji dressed on the festival of Holi (festival of
colour); 6. Shri nathji ko Rakhi ko uchhav ko singar hei [ Shrinathji dressed on Similar Sri Nathji paintings have been sold in Christie’s New York, 20 March
the festival of Rakhi] 2008, lots 281 and 282; and online 17-27 May 2016, lots 22 and 24.
104 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty 105
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.