拍品描述:来源 Christie's New York, 20 March 2012, lot 200. This painting belongs to a known group of dispersed folios from the Bhagavata Purana, recognizable from their large dimensions and distinctive red border. The Gurkha dynasty that ruled Nepal claimed descent from the Rajas of Chittogarh, having fled from the Mughals to take refuge in Nepal. Accordingly Rajput traditions and culture was patronized at the Gurkha court. As such, the palette, narrative and depiction of figures seem to relate to central Indian painting. The wonderful aerial view revealing the complex architectural composition in multiple perspectives has parallels with later Mewari court painting (Hurel and Okada, Pouvoir et Desir: Miniatures Indiennes Collextion Edwin Binney 3rd du Dan Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, 2002, pp. 114-115, cat.42). However, Pal argues that by the 18th century the influence of Pahari and Kangra painting on Nepali art cannot be overlooked in favor of Rajput due to the geographical separation with central India (Pal, The Classical Tradition in Rajput Painting from the Paul F. Walter Collection, New York, 1978, pp.196-197, cat.73.). The left section of the painting depicts the Sage Narada visiting Krishna in Dwarka after learning that Krishna has defeated Narakasura and married sixteen thousand maidens, many of whom are depicted in the balcony above Narada. The larger scene, however, depicts Krishna and his brother Balarama processing through Dwarka in golden chariots. The brothers are depicted once again alongside their army outside of the city gates. Several aesthetic and material elements reveal a specific Nepali influence, a living testament to the impact of Hindu myth throughout the South Asian region. Krishna and his companions wears a crown that feature a fringe-like adornment, recalling the Bird of Paradise feathered crescent plumes on the Nepalese royal family’s crowns. Furthermore, Krishna’s sword resembles the kukri, the national weapon of Nepal, because of its thin base, expanded upper end, and metallic appearance. In fact, the emphasis on military weapons in the painting’s border reflects the martial atmosphere in Nepal at the end of the eighteenth century, when the Shah dynasty fell and the Gorkha empire began. A folio from this series, depicting Krishna and Satyambha storming Pragyotisha sold recently at Christie’s New York, 23 March 2022, lot 481 for $151,200. A similar painting from this series is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 2019.64).