Krishna by Anonymous, Signed (2 results)

Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator). A richly colored late Jaipur?Kishangarh miniature depicting Krishna seated among three Gopis beside a lotus pond, framed by wooded hills and a temple dome. The women hold musical instruments and flowers, illustrating the Raslila theme of divine love. The dark ground and delicate white highlights reveal Kishangarh influence, while the color harmonies and composition align with Jaipur court painting traditions. Executed in opaque watercolor and gold on reused paper containing 19th-century Devanagari accounting entries, confirming authentic material reuse practices of late Rajput ateliers. TRANSLATION (SELECTED LINES ? DEVANAGARI REVERSE) 1. ???? ?????? ??? ? In the name of Lord Ganesha 2. ?????? ? ?? ? Harilal ? 95 rupees 3. ??????? ? ??? ? Mohanlal ? 115 rupees 4. ???????? ? ??? ? Girdharlal ? 125 rupees 5. ?????????? ? ??? ? Lakshmidas ? 105 rupees 6. ?? ? ? ??? ? Total ? 440 rupees 7. ?????? ???? ???? ? Dated Samvat 1211 (? 1854 CE) 8. ????????? ??????? ? Signed: Sohanlal (account keeper) 9. ??? ???????? ???? ? Note: Merchant account CONCLUSION This elegant Jaipur?Kishangarh devotional miniature exemplifies the synthesis of religious art and mercantile documentation. The reuse of an 1850s account ledger connects spiritual devotion with the material world of 19th-century Rajasthan. Together with Items 171 and 172, this folio forms part of a unified Krishna?Gopi series by the same workshop, notable for refined color layering, rhythmic composition, and historical depth.

Unique handmade miniature painting on a repurposed manuscript folio (illustrator). A late 19th-century Jaipur?Kishangarh school miniature painting depicting Krishna with three Gopis in a moonlit grove. The figures are elegantly posed, two holding musical instruments and one offering a drink to Krishna, set against a darkened hilly landscape and a domed temple in the distance. Executed in opaque watercolor and gold on handmade paper, the painting combines lyrical grace with delicate color harmony characteristic of the Kishangarh idiom. The reverse reveals Devanagari account writing, listing merchant names and rupee values (e.g., Ganeshdas, Nanalal, Ramchandra) with repeated numerical tallies? likely from an earlier financial ledger reused by the artist. This dual-layer artifact reflects both devotional artistry and the economic pragmatism of late Rajput atelier practice, where fine paper from commercial sources was often repurposed for miniature painting. TRANSLATION (SELECTED LINES ? DEVANAGARI REVERSE) 1. ??????? ? ??? ? Ganeshdas ? 125 rupees 2. ??????? ? ??? ? Nanalal ? 215 rupees 3. ????????? ? ??? ? Ramchandra ? 155 rupees 4. ?????????? ? ??? ? Govinddas ? 105 rupees 5. ??????? ? ??? ? Munshiji ? 115 rupees 6. ?? ? ? ??? ? Total ? 950 rupees 7. ?????? ? ???? ?????? ? Dated (unclear, possibly Samvat 1911?1915 ? 1854?1858 CE) 8. ??????? (signature) ? Signed: Shankarlal (account keeper) CONCLUSION A superb example of Jaipur?Kishangarh devotional painting over reused manuscript paper. Its fusion of romantic Krishna imagery with underlying mercantile text offers tangible evidence of cross-contextual reuse in 19th-century Rajasthani art. The painting?s strong preservation, precise linework, and manuscript documentation make it a collectible example of both religious and documentary heritage from the late Rajput court tradition.