Arkivism
Akrura Drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, from the “Isarda Bhagavata Purana”
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Akrura Drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, from the “Isarda Bhagavata Purana”

c. 1560–70 · Gum tempera and ink on paper

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

A page from a Hindu manuscript shows the dark-skinned Krishna and his white-skinned brother leaving their companions in the cowherd village where they grew up. They are on their way to confront their evil uncle who killed their siblings and imprisoned their parents. Their gestures urgently indicate the direction of their journey. A preference for the color pink in the sky, chariot, and garments distinguishes this work from those of pre-Mughal creation.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineAkrura Drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, from the “Isarda Bhagavata Purana”, c. 1560–70. Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Isarda. Gum tempera and ink on paper; overall: 19.3 x 25.7 cm (7 5/8 x 10 1/8 in.); with mat: 36.3 x 49 cm (14 5/16 x 19 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1971.234

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