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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Nathdwara
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Rajasthan
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India
- Date
- mid 19th century
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- shrine hanging (pichhavai); opaque watercolour on cotton
- Dimensions
- 271.8 x 251.5 cm
- Credit
- Purchased 2011
- Location
- South Building, lower level 1, Asian Lantern galleries
- Accession number
- 217.2011
- Copyright
- Share
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About
Pichhavai shrine hangings are commissioned in adoration of the Hindu god Krishna and displayed according to seasonal festivals. This pichhavai was created for Sharad Purnima (the autumn full moon festival). It shows Krishna in the form of the child-god Shrinathji; his left hand is held high in reference to the miraculous event in which he lifted Mount Govardhan to protect his community from a violent storm. Flanking Krishna are gopis (milkmaids) from the cow-herding village in which he grew up, while the lower register celebrates the auspicious sacred cows. In the starry sky, on either side of the silvery full moon, Hindu gods travel in flying boats. Holding lotus blossoms, Krishna is dressed in the dancing skirt and garlands appropriate to the festival. Along the base of the painting is a narrow strip of water filled with lotus leaves and flowers. This represents the Yamuna River, the site of many of Krishna’s life events.
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
One hundred flowers (2011), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 01 Sep 2011–15 Jan 2012
Elemental, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jul 2022–2024
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Bibliography
Referenced in 3 publications
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Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales annual report 2009–10, Sydney, 2010, 87 (colour illus.).
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Emma Glyde, Look, 'To the moon', pg22-23, Sydney, Mar 2013, 23(colour illus.).
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Jackie Menzies, Look, 'One hundred flowers: Recent Asian acquisitions', pg. 34-35, Sydney, Nov 2011, 35 (colour illus.).
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Provenance
The provenance of this work is under review and records will be updated as new details become available. The Gallery welcomes any information. Contact provenance@ag.nsw.gov.au
Jack Light, 1968-pre Mar 2011, United States of America
Theresa McCullough Indian and Southeast Asian Art, pre Mar 2011, New York/New York/United States of America, purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, June 2011.