Rasikapriya
The text of the verse on this painting tallies with no. 60 from the chapter III of Rasikapriya. However, the contents of the text do not conform to the components of the painting. This chapter of Rasikapriya deals with the lovers' meeting spot and the endeavours required to succeed in being together. In this verse Krsna tells to Radha pretending that his friends do not let him join them when they wander around in the forest. On the other hand they are frightening him uttering the name of a cruel character called Subal. Thus, he is left with monkeys/deer as his only friends.
The painter has made use of the tradition of placing messengers to communicate between the hero and the heroine. Thus, what Krsna has to convey to Radha, he is conveying by his raised right hand to a male attendant, while the female messenger is in a similar gesture talking to Radha. This figures are placed in the foreground plane along side a house, so that the pair of trees, the deer couple and the monkeys on the upper section of the painting, would together appear as the forest located at a distance, which is mentioned in the verse. The presence of monkeys is the clue to understand the meaning of the painting. Interestingly the monkey standing below the tree is aping the same gesture as that of Krsna, which is the raised right arm.
Article Code No:
NCM 46
Outer or folio measurement:
33.4 x 24.6
Verified:
Not Verified
Period:
17
Main location:
Display
Sub location:
SC 11
Remarks on condition of painting:
Good
Remarks:
Donated to Gujarat Museum Society
by Smt Shanta Mehta
in the year 1961
by Smt Shanta Mehta
in the year 1961
Folio Published or reference book:
Yes
Category:
Painting
Price:
0 INR