{
"data": {
"id": 146117,
"accession_number": "1971.301",
"share_license_status": "CC0",
"tombstone": "Krishna returns with the cowherds to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana, c. 1830. Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera and ink on paper; overall: 22 x 33 cm (8 11/16 x 13 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald, 1971.301",
"current_location": "242B Indian Painting",
"title": "Krishna returns with the cowherds to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana",
"creation_date": "c. 1830",
"creation_date_earliest": 1825,
"creation_date_latest": 1835,
"artists_tags": [],
"culture": [
"Northern India, Pahari kingdoms"
],
"technique": "Gum tempera and ink on paper",
"support_materials": [],
"department": "Indian and Southeast Asian Art",
"collection": "Indian Art",
"type": "Painting",
"measurements": "Overall: 22 x 33 cm (8 11/16 x 13 in.)",
"dimensions": {
"overall": {
"height": 0.22,
"height_inch": 8,
"height_inch_fraction": 0.6875,
"width": 0.33,
"width_inch": 13,
"width_inch_fraction": 0.0
}
},
"state_of_the_work": null,
"edition_of_the_work": null,
"copyright": null,
"inscriptions": [
{
"inscription": "On the back",
"inscription_translation": null,
"inscription_remark": null,
"sortorder": null
},
{
"inscription": "14 dhiai, 56 pehla deobhe bhojan chhak ke brindaban bich aaye mor mukut tang\nke",
"inscription_translation": "Chapter 14. 56 - The Lord himself tasted the food first and then adorning his peacock-crown\narrived at Vrindavan\u2019",
"inscription_remark": "Takri, verso, at the top",
"sortorder": null
},
{
"inscription": "chitra 56 adhyah 10 chitra 2",
"inscription_translation": "\u2018Painting no. 56, Chapter 14 - Image 2\u2019",
"inscription_remark": "Devanagari, on the back, at the left",
"sortorder": null
},
{
"inscription": "Natvabhishtam Jagddhata Svadhama Pratyapadyat\n\n[indented]:\nUcushca Srihayadah Krishnam Svagatam Tehtiramhasa\nNekopyabhoji Kavala Ehiya Sadhu Bhujyatam. 44\nTato Hasan Hashikeshobhyavahritya Saharbhake\nDarshayam Shracharmajagaram Nyavartat Vanad Vrajam.45\n \nEvam Vihare Komare Komaram Jahaturvraje. Nilayane Setubandhermarkatotplavanadibhi. 60\n\n[in red]:\nIti Srimadbhagvate Dashamaskande Purvardhe Brahamstutirnam Chaturdashodhyay. 14",
"inscription_translation": "\u2018After bowing at Krishna\u2019s feet, Brahma returned to his realm [Brahmaloka], which is adored by all.\nThe friends of Krishna said \u201cIt is well that you have come back with great expedition. Not a morsel\nhas yet been swallowed by us. Come this side and dine with us to your heart\u2019s content.\u201d 44\nThereupon Krishna laughed, took his meal with the cowherd boys and showing them the skin of\nthe python [Aghasura], he returned from the forest to Braj. 45 Thus Balarama and Krishna passed\ntheir childhood in Braj in childlike pastimes such as hide-and-seek, construction of dams and\njumping about like monkeys. 60 Hence concludes the fourteenth chapter entitled \u2018Brahma Extols\nthe Lord\u2019 in the first half of the Book Ten of Bhagavata Purana.\u201914",
"inscription_remark": null,
"sortorder": null
}
],
"exhibitions": {
"current": [
{
"id": 309664,
"title": "Consuming Passions: The Art of Food and Drink",
"description": "Consuming Passions: The Art of Food and Drink. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 26-October 9, 1983); Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, Beachwood, OH (March 3-April 15, 1984).",
"opening_date": "1983-07-26T04:00:00"
},
{
"id": 292699,
"title": "Artlens Exhibition 2017",
"description": "Artlens Exhibition 2017. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 24, 2017-May 29, 2019).",
"opening_date": "2017-06-24T04:00:00"
},
{
"id": 707773,
"title": "Art of Pahari India",
"description": "Art of Pahari India. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 30, 2026-February 21, 2027).",
"opening_date": "2026-08-30T04:00:00"
}
],
"legacy": []
},
"provenance": [
{
"description": "Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art",
"citations": [],
"footnotes": null,
"date": "?\u20131971",
"sortorder": 1
},
{
"description": "The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH",
"citations": [],
"footnotes": null,
"date": "1971\u2013",
"sortorder": 2
}
],
"find_spot": null,
"related_works": [],
"former_accession_numbers": [],
"did_you_know": "On the left the scene of the picnicking herd boys shows them eating rice on banana leaves, while on the right they drive the cows home.",
"early_education_description": null,
"artlens_description": null,
"description": "The painting is based on Chapter 14 of Book 10 of the Bhagavata Purana in which the god Brahma hides the cowherds and calves of Krishna. After realizing his mistake and witnessing the divine prowess of Krishna, Brahma extols Krishna and returns to his abode while Krishna and his fellow cowherds enjoy a hearty meal and then return to Braj.",
"external_resources": {
"wikidata": [
"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60471894"
],
"internet_archive": [
"https://archive.org/details/clevelandart-1971.301-krishna-returns-with"
]
},
"citations": [
{
"citation": "Leach, Linda York. Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1986.",
"page_number": "Reproduced: Cat. 110",
"url": null
}
],
"url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1971.301",
"images": {
"annotation": null,
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"date_created": "2014-05-08T13:54:23",
"annotation": ""
}
],
"creditline": "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald",
"image_credit": null,
"sketchfab_id": null,
"sketchfab_url": null,
"gallery_donor_text": null,
"athena_id": 146117,
"creators": [],
"legal_status": "accessioned",
"accession_date": "1971-12-11T00:00:00",
"sortable_date": 1825,
"date_added_to_oa": null,
"date_text": "c. 1830",
"collapse_artists": false,
"on_loan": false,
"recently_acquired": false,
"record_type": "object",
"conservation_statement": null,
"has_conservation_images": false,
"cover_accession_number": null,
"is_nazi_era_provenance": false,
"impression": null,
"alternate_titles": [
"Krishna and the Cowherds"
],
"is_highlight": false,
"updated_at": "2026-08-30 05:02:00.113000"
}
}