Shrine Hanging (Pichhwai) Fragment

A pichhwai is intended to be displayed as a backdrop to an icon of Krishna in a shrine devoted to the god; they are most famously associated with cult of Krishna as Shrinathji, centered at Nathdwara, in Rajasthan. The center red field contains two textile sections each of which contains four rows of painted and gilded figures of gopis (cowherdesses). In the middle registers are two rows of standing gopis that carry fly whisks (chauri), fans, devotional offerings, musical instruments, and mirrors. Above and below are seated gopis set within black frames decorated with a meandering vine motif. The red background of the center field is embellished with painted flowers intended to evoke a pastoral setting. The entire composition is framed within a green border decorated with gold disks. This would have formed part of a large composition in which the figure of Krishna, the focus of their devotion, was depicted centrally.