Visual Art
Browse all art →16 works of visual art in this collection
paintingSakhi Persuades Radha to Meet Krishna — Gita Govinda
Anonymous (Pahari)
A pair of sketches depicting a standing female figure, likely a nymph or divine attendant, draped in flowing robes.
paintingRama Releases the Demon Spies Shuka and Sarana: Folio from the Siege of Lanka series
Manaku
Rama and his allies are depicted in a council on the right, while the demon king Ravana and his spies Shuka and Sarana are seen on the walls of the fortress of Lanka on the left.
paintingKrishna and the Gopis Gather for Rasamandala
Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Kota
The blue-skinned deity Krishna performs the Rasamandala (circular dance) with a large group of Gopis (cowherd maidens) in a nocturnal forest setting.
paintingThe Birth of Krishna, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580)
Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Mewar
The painting depicts the birth and subsequent celebrations of the infant Krishna, featuring Devaki reclining on a bed, the newborn infant, and Nanda surrounded by jubilant courtiers, musicians, and dancers.
paintingKrishna and the Gopis on the Yamuna River
Unknown
The blue-skinned deity Krishna stands amidst a group of Gopis (cowherd maidens) on the bank of the Yamuna River, embracing one maiden while others observe, touch, or kneel in adoration.
religiousGanesha transcribing the Mahabharata (Shri Shri Ganesh)
Unknown
The Hindu deity Ganesha is depicted sitting in a meditative posture, transcribing the Mahabharata onto a scroll while his mount, a small mouse, sits at his side.
objectHanuman Conversing
Unknown
A copper alloy standing figure of the Hindu deity Hanuman, depicted in a gentle, conversational posture with his right hand raised in a gesture of discourse or teaching.
paintingHanuman in His Tantric Five-Headed Pancha Mukha Form
Unknown
The Hindu deity Hanuman is depicted in his Panchamukha (five-faced) Tantric form, standing in a dynamic stride while crushing two demons under his feet, with multiple arms holding ritual implements.
paintingKrishna Dancing: Page from the Dispersed "Boston" Rasikapriya (Lover's Breviary)
Unknown
The deity Krishna, depicted with blue skin and a peacock feather in his crown, dances alongside a male companion while being watched by two women from palace windows and an older male figure standing in a doorway.
paintingKrishna Revels with the Gopis: Page from a Dispersed Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherds)
Unknown
The blue-skinned deity Krishna embraces a Gopi (cowherdess) while two other Gopis stand nearby in a stylized garden setting.
paintingKrishna Slays Bakasura, the Crane Demon: Page from a Dispersed Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of Lord Vishnu))
Unknown
The deity Krishna, depicted with dark blue skin, stands on the ground and uses his hands to pry open the beak of Bakasura, a giant white crane demon.
paintingKrishna Woos Radha: Page from the Dispersed "Boston" Rasikapriya (Lover's Breviary)
Unknown
The Hindu deity Krishna and his consort Radha are depicted embracing and about to kiss in a forest clearing.
paintingKrishna and Balarama within a Walled Palace: Page from a Dispersed Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of Lord Vishnu)
Unknown
The blue-skinned deity Krishna and his brother Balarama are seated together on a palace terrace, surrounded by courtiers, while a large royal procession involving horse-drawn chariots, elephants, and soldiers unfolds in the palace courtyard and the surrounding landscape.
paintingKrishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the Rain
Unknown
The blue-skinned deity Krishna stands in a clearing, holding aloft Mount Govardhana as a shelter for the gopis (cowherd girls) and cattle, who gather beneath it to escape a rainstorm depicted in the dark, heavy clouds above.
drawingPage from a Dispersed Ramayana (Story of Rama)
Unknown
In this multi-scene narrative drawing, Rama stands with his bow in a mountainous forest landscape while Sita, identified by name, sits in contemplation nearby, and the sage Valmiki stands facing her with attendants; above, a depiction of the abduction of Sita by Ravana shows him carrying her away through the air as birds and animals observe.
The great narrative traditions of India — the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa that have shaped the imagination of a billion people, and the Purāṇas that encode cosmology, mythology, genealogy, and philosophy in story form.
Includes the Calcutta 1834 editio princeps of the Mahābhārata (first complete Sanskrit printing), Gorresio's critical Rāmāyaṇa from Paris, and Wilson's foundational Viṣṇu Purāṇa.
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