Sri Nathji
(early 20th century)
from a set of 24 paintings of Sri Nathji

INDIAN

Medium: opaque watercolour on paper
Measurements: 10.7 × 7.1 cm (image)
Place/s of Execution: Nathdwara, Rajasthan, India
Accession Number: 2006.39
Department: Asian Art
Credit Line: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 2006
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Gallery location: Not on display
Physical description: Group of eight paintings of Sri Nathji: 2006.39-2006.46. The works are eight images of the Hindu god Krishna, in the form known as Sri Nathji. In this form Krishna is depicted as a seven year old boy with one arm raised, referring to the occasion on which he lifted up Mount Govardhan, to protect the cow-herders amongst whom he lived, from a storm sent by the god Indra. The paintings, in opaque watercolour on paper, are mounted as a group on card. The eight different forms of Sri Nathji which are represented relate to different hours of the day, at which times images of the god in temples are worshipped and tended by the temple priests. Part of this ritual includes dressing the images of the god in different clothes, and these garments are depicted in the paintings on offer. The god is also dressed in different costumes on festival days, and some of the images in the set may depict these costumes. Inscriptions in devanagiri script accompany most of the images.

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