Artwork
Radha and Krishna
Radha and Krishna is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This work portrays the divine lovers Radha and Krishna standing side by side beneath a verdant tree. Rendered in opaque watercolor on paper, the composition dates to the mid‑18th century, around 1740, and captures a moment of intimate connection between the two figures.
Subject & Meaning
Radha, shown in a red garment edged with gold, and Krishna, attired in yellow and crowned with a stylized headpiece, clasp each other's hands, a visual shorthand for their spiritual union in Hindu tradition. The setting—a garden‑like space with a simple sky and scattered foliage—evokes a sacred, pastoral realm where divine love is celebrated.
Technique & Style
The artist employed opaque watercolors, allowing for vivid, saturated hues and crisp outlines that give the scene a lively, almost theatrical quality. The flat patterned canopy above the tree and the minimal background suggest a decorative approach typical of Indian court painting of the period, emphasizing color and form over naturalistic depth.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1740, the painting reflects the artistic conventions of northern Indian devotional art during the late Mughal and early Rajput phases. Its provenance prior to acquisition by the museum is undocumented, but the work aligns with other surviving examples of Radha‑Krishna iconography produced for private devotional use.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
