Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Puranac. 1775 · Study 2022.45

Context from the museum

From a series depicting the life of Krishna, an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, this scene takes place at the demon king Naraka’s citadel. Seen from above, the mountaintop fortress is surrounded by concentric fortifications that recall the format of a mandala. In the upper left chambers, Naraka sits with nymphs he abducted from heaven. At the right, coming to rescue them, the blue Krishna with his wife blasts through the fortifications on his man-eagle mount Garuda. He prepares to shoot a crescent-shaped arrowhead that has the magical power of a mantra capable of destroying the multiheaded red demon guard.

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

A detail to notice

Krishna’s arrowheads are crescent-shaped, meaning that they have the destructive power of special mantras.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting only measurement for Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Purana is 51.5 cm wide and 32.2 cm high, equivalent to approximately 20.3 × 12.7 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.60:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.17 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 17.2% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 124.3 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 Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Purana 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 ink on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 51.5 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?