Krishna Slips Sapphire Bangles onto Radha's Wrists

Guler, Punjab Hills, India

Sanguine under-drawing ascribed to Nainsukh of Guler, 1765

Ink drawing attributed to a Master of the first Generation after Nainsukh, Circa 1775

19 x 28 cm

In this sublime 18^th century drawing from the Gita Govinda, a work composed by the 12th-century Hindu poet, Jayadeva, by the undisputed master of Pahari painting, Nainsukh of Guler and his descendant, we observe a poetic masterpiece of the physical and spiritual romance of Radha and Krishna

As in Jayadeva’s poetic text in Sanskrit celebrating the love of Radha and Krishna, the passionate narrative here unfolds along the banks of the Yamuna River. This river flows in each folio from the series, and its different states along with the ethereal landscape, tree branches, flowers and delicate details introduce powerful metaphors to the imagery. The hillside and its contours are gently rendered in a sanguine composition by Nainsukh of Guler, achieved using red chalk traditionally derived from red iron oxide and popular for the softness and warmth it gives to a drawing,

Above the ochre background, delicate ink drawings by an 18^th century Master of the first generation after Nainsukh, depict three groupings: in the left register, a trio of women gather under long flowing robes with their heads covered while, in the right register, a delicate drawing of a parallel couple acts as a preparatory but slightly less finished precursor to the central drawing. In the main drawing, Krishna and Radha sit in a tender and loving exchange as Krishna gently places sapphire bangles onto Radha’s wrists, a moment said to symbolize the eternal love between a mortal and the divine.

While Krishna wears a five-point crown denoting his elevated status, Radha is more modestly attired in a flowing dress with her head modestly covered. Their limbs are held in intimate proximity as Krishna reaches forward to place bangles on Radha’s extended left arm as she observes the moment with graceful joy.

The delicate setting of this celebrated tableau is rendered in consummate mastery using simple lines – the surrounding hills are suggested by curving lines that are interspersed with slender branches and billowing foliage. To the left of the main couple, a gentle zigzag line represents the river as a delineating element of the location.

The fluent, essential, and elegant line of the master artist draws us in and creates moments of reflection, while engaging the viewer. The minutest detail of an eyebrow, or a finger can contain the whole spirit and essence of the picture.

Paintings and drawings from Guler demand to be looked at with more care and intent than we generally do. According to B.N Goswamy, it was Nainsukh of Guler who conceived and planned the overall design of this ‘Tehri-Garhwal’ Gita Govinda. The under drawing in the present works is attributed to his hand. The making of these works was a staged process, and the layers of drawing make these detailed preliminary works.

The songs in the Gita Govinda are known as the ‘Ashtapadis’, and the text is divided into twelve cantos, with twenty-four songs set in twelve classical ragas. It is a poem dominated by the ‘Shringara’ rasa or erotic sentiment, echoing Radha and Krishna’s attributes of beauty and love, symbolizing the longing and striving of the individual for communion with the divine.

Jayadeva’s verses in Sanskrit on the reverse translate as:

“Krishna slips Sapphire bangles onto Radha’s wrists.

The dark sapphire bangle he slips over each

lotus-petal hand

Encircles her arm’s cool pale supple stalk like a swarm of bees”

 

References:

Archer, W.G. Indian Paintings From the Punjab Hills. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1973.

Goswamy and Fisher. Pahari Masters: Court Painters of Northern India. Zurich: Artibus Asiae 1992.

Goswamy, and Fischer. Nainsukh of Guler: A Great Indian Painter From a Small Hill-State. Zurich: Artibus Asiae, 1997.

Randhawa, M.S. Kangra Paintings of the Gita Govinda. New Delhi: National Museum, 1963.

 

Provenance:

Konrad Seitz Collection, Germany 1970s

Private Collection, UK.