Accession Number
2003/2.9

Title
Adoration of Shri Nathji

Artist(s)
Artist Unknown, India, Rajasthan, Kotah School

Object Creation Date
circa 1830

Medium & Support
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Dimensions
9 13/16 in x 8 1/4 in (25 cm x 21 cm);19 3/8 in x 14 3/8 in (49.2 cm x 36.5 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by Shahid and Takako Jamil and the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Label copy
This painting was once part of a large set documenting liturgical practices at the Kotah royal palace in Rajasthan. The richly dressed sculpture in the central niche is Shri Nathaji, an alternative name for Krishna, and the principal deity of the Vallabha Sampraday sect, to which the Kotah ruling family belonged. A priest is shown performing the lamp-waving ceremony before Shri Nathaji. At right is a small costumed sculpture of Krishna playing the flute.
The Kotah royal house developed a detailed calendar of rituals to be performed in the presence of Shri Nathaji, who would be dressed in different costumes depending on the season and occasion. At least two sets of paintings were commissioned to document these rituals.
Exhibited in "Divine Encounters, Earthly Pleasures: Twenty Centuries of Indian Art" at UMMA, 12/12/03–2/22/04.

Subject matter
This painting was once part of a large set documenting liturgical practices at the Kotah royal palace in Rajasthan.
The Kotah royal house developed a detailed calendar of rituals to be performed in the presence of Shri Nathaji, who would be dressed in different costumes depending on the season and occasion. At least two sets of paintings were commissioned to document these rituals.

Physical Description
The richly dressed sculpture in the central niche is Shri Nathaji, an alternative name for Krishna, and the principal deity of the Vallabha Sampraday sect, to which the Kotah ruling family belonged. A priest is shown performing the lamp-waving ceremony before Shri Nathaji. At right is a small costumed sculpture of Krishna playing the flute.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
ritual painting

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Hinduism
Portraits
standing
worshippers