The Birth of Krishna, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580)1705–10 · Study 1984.65

Context from the museum

The blind poet and Hindu saint Surdas (1578/79–c. 1581), a devotee of Krishna, is shown in the hut at the lower right corner playing cymbals to measure meter as he recites his poem, called Sursagar . Verse 5 is written at the top of the page, and the scenes of festivities surrounding the arrival of the newborn Krishna are depicted throughout the rest of the painting. His adoptive mother Yashoda lies with the infant in the chamber at the upper left. His dark skin led to his being named Krishna, meaning dark, and shown as blue. Women clamor at her door to see the baby, as the men of the village receive silver coins being distributed on behalf of Nanda, the village elder and Krishna’s adoptive father, who is seated at the left receiving two well-wishers. Below, men and children of the cowherd village celebrate by pouring pots of curds and ghee over each other and dancing to the sounds of horns and drums.

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

A detail to notice

Many poets in Udaipur styled themselves as "Surdas."

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for The Birth of Krishna, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580) is 22.2 cm wide and 33.6 cm high, equivalent to approximately 8.7 × 13.2 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.66:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.07 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 7.4% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 138.9 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 The Birth of Krishna, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 22.2 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?