"Radha with Her Confidant, Pining for Krishna", Folio from the "Second" or "Tehri Garhwal" Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd)

ca. 1775–80

Not on view

The painting illustrates a scene from the literary masterpiece, the Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) composed by the poet Jayadeva in the 12th century. The painting depicts Radha and her sakhi (friend) in an idyllic hilly setting, the sacred landscape of Braj (setting of the Krishna legends) with a flowing river in the background and flowering trees all around. 　

Radha clutches at a tree with pink blossoms assuming a grief-stricken pose, as the sakhi listens or sings, as described in the text : "The god of love increased her ordeal, / Tormenting her with fevered thoughts, / And her friend sang to heighten the mood."

Artwork Details

Title: "Radha with Her Confidant, Pining for Krishna", Folio from the "Second" or "Tehri Garhwal" Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd)
Date: ca. 1775–80
Culture: Indian
Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions: Page: 6 7/8 × 10 5/8 in. (17.5 × 27 cm)
Image: 6 in. × 9 15/16 in. (15.2 × 25.2 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 2020
Object Number: 2020.383
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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