Head of Krishna: cartoon for a mural of the Raslila
This drawing is thought to have been a preparatory study for a mural. Although it first served as a pounce— its lines were pricked with tiny holes to allow the image to be transferred to a wall—it was later reworked into a finished drawing by Sahib Ram, who strengthened its outlines, whited out areas he wished to change, and brushed Krishna’s skin and clothing with luminous washes of watercolor. The drawing is based on an earlier work by the artist Sahib Ram that shows a dancing girl dressed as Krishna.
Artwork Details
- Title: Head of Krishna: cartoon for a mural of the Raslila
- Artist: Attributed to Sahib Ram (active 1778–1803)
- Date: ca. 1800
- Culture: India (Rajasthan, Jaipur)
- Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
- Dimensions: 27 1/4 × 18 1/2 in. (69.2 × 47 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1918
- Object Number: 18.85.2
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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