Krishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the Rain
Here, dark clouds fill the sky and Krishna shelters several gopis (cow maids), alluding to his lifting of Mount Govardhana to shield the inhabitants of the village of Braj from a devastating storm sent by the god Indra. The gopis’ devotion (bhakti) to Krishna is mimicked by the cows who share in their adoration. Krishna’s pastoral activity, which was mapped for places of pilgrimage, and his erotically charged relationship with the gopis, which speaks of his passionate connection to his devotees, came to be important aspects of religious life. Accordingly, they were the subjects of paintings at many of the Rajput courts.
Artwork Details
- Title: Krishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the Rain
- Date: 1760
- Culture: India (Rajasthan, Jaipur)
- Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
- Dimensions: 13 3/4 x 9 3/8 in. (34.9 x 23.8 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. John Wiley and Cynthia Hazen Polsky Gifts, and Rogers Fund, 1991
- Object Number: 1991.94
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Stipple Master
Jai Ram
ca. 1712
India (Rajasthan, Kishangarh)
ca. 1735
India (Rajasthan, Bikaner)
ca. 1725
India (Madhya Pradesh, Malwa)
ca. 1650
India (Rajasthan, Sirohi)
ca. 1680
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.