Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala”

1770–75

Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala”, 1770–75. Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Kota. Gum tempera, ink, silver, and gold on paper; page: 32.7 x 23.8 cm (12 7/8 x 9 3/8 in.); miniature: 18.8 x 12.7 cm (7 3/8 x 5 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.179 The mood of this scene is joyous, as the blue-skinned god Krishna sits with his beloved in a high covered balcony. Below, exuberant musicians blow horns and clap time. One man in front plays the cymbals next to the open-mouthed singer on a lute-like instrument. A guard sits relaxed and unworried, counting the beads of his rosary. This musical mode is performed at early morning, suggested by the sunrise at the horizon.