id: 314477 accession number: 2018.172 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2018.172 updated: 2023-03-20 10:12:37.344000 Radha’s Confidante Brings Her to Krishna, Based on Poetry of Bihari (Indian, 1595–1663), c. 1790–1800. Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Jaipur. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; page: 28.3 x 39.4 cm (11 1/8 x 15 1/2 in.); miniature: 21.6 x 31.4 cm (8 1/2 x 12 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.172 title: Radha’s Confidante Brings Her to Krishna, Based on Poetry of Bihari (Indian, 1595–1663) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1790–1800 creation date earliest: 1780 creation date latest: 1810 current location: creditline: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund copyright: --- culture: Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Jaipur technique: Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Page: 28.3 x 39.4 cm (11 1/8 x 15 1/2 in.); Miniature: 21.6 x 31.4 cm (8 1/2 x 12 3/8 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: [on top margin] chippo chipā kara chita chato tama sasihara na samhāri hasatti hasatti cali śaśimukhī mukha ttai ghumghata tāri. [on bottom margin] yaha nāyakā madhyā koṃ sakhī nāyaka pāsi le jāva hai caṃdramā chipato dekhi sakhī nāyakā kā mukh ko pata duri karai hai ki haimstī haim cāli tere mukha ko prakāsa ho jāyago. translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Supernatural Love - Indian Gallery 242 Rotation opening date: 2019-04-01T04:00:00 Supernatural Love - Indian Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (April 1-September 9, 2019). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: Halos behind the heads of Radha and Krishna suggest their eminence as divine lovers. digital description: In the night, Radha is being led to Krishna waiting at the place of tryst by a female companion (sakhi). The sakhi takes off Radha’s veil so that her moonlit face could light up their way. Krishna is shown waiting for the arrival of Radha in a grove. Radha’s house has been decorated with ornamented inlay designs of floral patterns. wall description: During the late 1700s, Indian artists began to experiment with the use of perspective and receding picture planes––a British influence. At Jaipur in particular, artists worked in modes that accorded with British tastes, because many workshops there functioned as a marketplace, where paintings were made for sale instead of for a private royal collection. This painting, however, was probably made for the royal collection, but the widespread use of perspective infused court painting at Jaipur as well.

The Hindi poem in the top and bottom borders sets the scene. At the end it reads:
On seeing the moon hide behind the clouds,
Her confidante lifts the veil from her face and says,
“Smile as you walk, for your smile lights up the world.” --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2018.172/2018.172_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2018.172/2018.172_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2018.172/2018.172_full.tif