Who painted Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana?

Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana was painted by Unknown in 1532.

Where can I see Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana?

Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana?

Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana is associated with Mughal Painting.

Artwork

Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana

Unknown , 1532

Nanda and the elders, page from a Bhagavata Purana is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This 16th-century page from a Bhagavata Purana manuscript depicts two concurrent narrative scenes.

About this work

Overview

This 16th-century page from a Bhagavata Purana manuscript depicts two concurrent narrative scenes. The lower register shows Nanda, Krishna's foster father, consulting with village elders beneath a tree, while the upper register illustrates a gardener offering a rose to a merchant's daughter.

Subject & Meaning

The primary scene addresses the elders' discussion of relocating their community to escape demonic attacks orchestrated by the evil king seeking to kill Krishna. The secondary scene above alludes to a subsidiary narrative within the Purana, highlighting the manuscript's multilayered storytelling.

Technique & Style

Characteristic of early 16th-century South Asian and Mughal-influenced compositions, the painting employs horizontal row arrangements of figures and elements. Notably, the upper scene exhibits an early, somewhat naturalistic interpretation of spatial relationships, contrasting with the flat, layered, and shadowless style predominant in the piece.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1500s, this page reflects the Mughal artistic tradition of basing compositions on earlier illustrations. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

This artwork predates the influence of Western perspective techniques in northern Indian art. It exemplifies the traditional, layered narrative approach common in the region during this period.

Legacy

As part of the Bhagavata Purana manuscript tradition, this page contributes to the visual storytelling heritage of South Asian art, illustrating the evolution of narrative techniques in the region.