Friends of Krishna, folio 163 from a Bhakti Ratnavali of Vishnu Puri1725–50 · Study 1970.510

Context from the museum

In the upper left vignette, the blue-skinned Krishna sits with two of his friends before Nanda, his foster father and head of the cowherd village in Braj, where he spent his youth. Below, he interacts with three adoring cows. The scene in the upper right corner accords with the end of the verse at the top of the page, which reads, “The one who speaks about him to his wife and son at home will never be abandoned by him.” The text is drawn from a compendium of devotional verses excerpted from the extensive Bhagavata Purana by the medieval commentator Vishnu Puri.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The entire background has been painted with the pigment known as Indian yellow, which CMA conservators identified by observing its bright fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for Friends of Krishna, folio 163 from a Bhakti Ratnavali of Vishnu Puri is 42.2 cm wide and 26.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 16.6 × 10.4 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.59:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.11 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 14.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 128.9 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Friends of Krishna, folio 163 from a Bhakti Ratnavali of Vishnu Puri in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 42.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?