
Click image to view full screen
Kamsa deploys Akrura and Keshi to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
The king on the low gold throne at center is Kamsa, evil tyrant and uncle of the Hindu god Krishna. He heard that Krishna would one day kill him, so he asked his friend Akrura to bring Krishna to the court for a wrestling match, where he plans to have Krishna murdered. Akrura, in green, stands reverently before him, bowing slightly. Wrestlers sit behind Akrura. <br><br>The decorative patterns, crisp lines, pale colors, and interest in conveying spatial depth are stylistic characteristics associated with painting of the mid-1800s. After this time, royal patrons began to prefer photography, printed books, and oil paintings, signaling a new era of visual culture in India.
| Artist / Maker | Northern India, Pahari kingdoms |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1830 |
| Culture / Origin | Northern India, Pahari kingdoms |
| Medium | Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper |
| Dimensions | Overall: 29.2 x 37.4 cm (11 1/2 x 14 3/4 in.); Painting only: 22.9 x 32.4 cm (9 x 12 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Indian and Southeast Asian Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
Register, verify your identity, and bid online or in a private room. Buyer’s premium and taxes are shown before you confirm.



