Krishna summoning the cows (c. 1780–90): Art, History and Details

Krishna summoning the cows (c. 1780–90) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

As a child, Krishna grew up in a community of cow herders. He is distinguished as supernatural by his blue-colored skin and his ability to mystically draw the cows to the sound of his flute. His brother, Balarama, has white skin and wears the herdsmen’s cloak over his head and carries a red herding staff.

Object facts

• Title: Krishna summoning the cows
• Date: c. 1780–90
• Culture: Northern India, Pahari kingdoms
• Type: Painting
• Technique: Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
• Dimensions: Overall: 24.3 x 27 cm (9 9/16 x 10 5/8 in.); with borders: 25.1 x 30.5 cm (9 7/8 x 12 in.)
• Collection: Indian Art
• Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
• Accession number: 1989.339

A detail from the museum

The river Jamma, also known as the Yamuna or Jumna, flows across the foreground.

Collection credit

Bequest of Mrs. Severance A. Millikin

Further reading listed by the museum

• Randhawa, Mohindar Singh. Kangra Valley Painting. Bombay: Pyarelal Sah, 1954.
• Archer, W. G. "Problems of Painting in the Punjab Hills," Marg 10 (1957): 30–36.
• Archer, W. G. Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills; a Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1973.

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.