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Title

Illustration from the 'Sur Sagar' of Surdas

early 18th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Mewar → Rajasthan → India
    Date
    early 18th century
    Media category
    Painting
    Materials used
    opaque watercolour on paper
    Dimensions
    25.7 x 32.4 cm
    Credit
    Gift of Dr Jim Masselos 2022
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    30.2022
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    In the late 15th or early 16th century, the blind poet and singer Surdas composed the 'Sur Sagar' (Sur’s Ocean), in praise of the Hindu god Krishna. Surdas appears in a pavilion at the top right of the painting, beside a depiction of the god Shiva with goddess Parvati (Uma) within a grotto. In the lower right, blue-skinned Krishna is seated with his consort Radha under an arch of flowers. Also featured in the lush landscape is a Rajput princely procession.

    Related paintings indicate that the panel of vivid yellow above the clouds was intended to bear a description of the scene in Devangari text; in this instance, it was not applied.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 2 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 1 publication

  • Provenance

    Maggs Bros. Ltd., early 1980s, London/England, purchased by Margaret Tyler on behalf of Jim Masselos.

    Jim Masselos, early 1980s-2022, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, donated to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, April 2022.