Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Antique 19th Century Indian Kalighat Painting of Krishna Milking Cow

$5,000
£3,793.88
€4,337.97
CA$6,983.64
A$7,764.86
CHF 4,054.38
MX$94,517.28
NOK 51,732.16
SEK 48,470.56
DKK 32,375.06
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Antique late 19th Century Indian Kalighat natural pigment watercolor painting of Krishna milking a cow under a Pipal tree. The cow is smiling at Krishna, with divine love. The cosmic dance of life represented in a symbolic message within the painting. Framed in gold painted carved wood frame under glass. Origins of Kalighat painting According to legend, Lord Shiva, the god of dance and destruction, was deep in meditation on Mount Kailash when he received news of the death of his consort, Sati, an avatar (or human manifestation) of the goddess Kali. He wandered for days with her body draped across his shoulders and his inconsolable grief threatened to ruin the earth. Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, was called upon to intervene. To relieve Shiva's burden, he shattered Sati's body into 51 pieces. The little toe of Sati's right foot was said to have fallen at the site of the Hooghly River, and from this point on the area became associated with the goddess Kali. By the 1690s, when it became part of the city of Kolkata, it was already known as the sacred realm of Kali or Kalikshetra. The moorings (ghat in Bengali) on the bank of the Hooghly River were known to pilgrims as Kalighat, and there was perhaps an early version of a temple at the spot in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the early 19th century, the temple was a popular destination for local people, pilgrims and interested European visitors. As Kolkata developed into a busy and thriving industrial harbour city, migrants began arriving looking for new opportunities. Among these were various artisans, craftsmen and painters from various parts of India, including patuas, members of an artisan community from West Bengal. Kalighat, with its daily hordes of pilgrims, would have provided a perfect opportunity for the local artists to produce and sell small religious souvenirs. The patua painters traditionally painted long narrative stories, often over 20 feet in length. Influenced by the different art forms around them and with a need to work quickly, the patuas abandoned their linear, narrative style in favour of single pictures involving one or two figures. The backgrounds were left plain, all non-essential details removed, and basic combinations of colours were used. This created the key characteristics of the Kalighat genre. The paintings attracted the interest of many foreign travellers who visited the city in the 19th century. As examples of 'oriental' or 'exotic' souvenirs, Kalighat paintings were perfect – easily portable and concise enough to explain to friends back home.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1890's
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU911939456042

More From This Seller

View All
Antique 19th Century Indian Kalighat Painting of Krishna Adoring Radha
Located in New York, NY
Antique 19th Century Indian Kalighat painting of the God Krishna worshipping his divine consort Radha. Painted in Calcutta, Bengal, India by a Bengali patua, with natural mineral pigment paints on paper. Signed illegibly in pencil, lower right. Origins of Kalighat painting written by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England: According to legend, Lord Shiva, the god of dance and destruction, was deep in meditation on Mount Kailash when he received news of the death of his consort, Sati, an avatar (or human manifestation) of the goddess Kali. He wandered for days with her body draped across his shoulders and his inconsolable grief threatened to ruin the earth. Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, was called upon to intervene. To relieve Shiva's burden, he shattered Sati's body into 51 pieces. The little toe of Sati's right foot was said to have fallen at the site of the Hooghly River...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Indian Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Paper

Antique Indian Tanjore Goddess Laxmi Painting
Located in New York, NY
Antique Tanjore Indian painting of Laxmi, the goddess of beauty, wealth and prosperity. She sits resplendently on a lotus flower, symbol of enlightenment. The elephants playfully spr...
Category

20th Century Indian Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Wood

Antique Indian Pichhwai Silk Painting of Krishna and Gopis
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful antique Pichhwai silk painting of Krishna and Radha accompanied by gopis, devas, the sun God Surya, plants and animals enjoying Dana L...
Category

Antique 19th Century Indian Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Silk, Wood

Rajasthani Indian Hand Painted Wood Jewelry Dowry Box
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Rajasthani Indian vaulted dowry jewelry box, hand painted with Indian lovers enjoying each other, while beautiful court musicians accompany them ...
Category

20th Century Indian Agra Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century Uzbek Silk Embroidered Suzani Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
19th century Uzbekistani hand spun linen Suzani with silk embroidered floral motif and silk ikat border. Reverse side has original antique Fine hand printed cotton backing.  
Category

Antique 19th Century Uzbek Suzani Tapestries

Materials

Linen, Silk

Indian Midcentury Folk Art Shiva Trimurti Wood Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Indian hardwood Shiva Trimurti sculpture is intricately hand carved with three sides of the face of Lord Shiva, one of the 3 major Gods of the Hindu...
Category

20th Century Indian Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Hardwood

You May Also Like

Antique Indian Krishna Mixed Media Miniature Painting
Located in Long Island City, NY
An antique Indian Mughal Art mixed media, gouache and gold leaf, miniature painting. The artwork depicts a garden scene with Krishna combing Radhas hair surrounded by the Gopis. Fram...
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Paintings

Materials

Paint

Antique Indian Mughal Mixed Media Miniature Painting
Located in Long Island City, NY
An antique Indian Mughal Art mixed media, gouache and gold leaf, miniature painting. The artwork depicts a courtyard scene with animals and servants. Framed. Collectible Oriental Isl...
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Paintings

Materials

Paint

Large & Colorful Indian Pichwai Painting On Fabric
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A 20th century pichwai painting, made on cloth, depicting a tale from Lord Krishna's life. Painted on cloth, it shows Shrinathji wearing festive clothes and jewelry with Gopis on bot...
Category

20th Century Anglo Raj Decorative Art

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Large South Indian India Asian Original Pichwai Painting of Elephant Procession
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly gorgeous, quite large and decorative, engaging South Indian Asian (India) Pichwai and/or gouache painting in a heavy two-sided acrylic frame featuring an evening Maharaja roy...
Category

20th Century Indian Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Textile, Silk, Paint

Antique Indian Kali Mixed Media Miniature Painting
Located in Long Island City, NY
An antique Indian Madhubani Art mixed media, gouache and gold leaf, miniature painting. The artwork depicts a Religious scene with Kali standing on Shiva. Framed. Collectible Orienta...
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Paintings

Materials

Paint

Vintage Indian Pishwaa Painting on Silk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Boho Original oil painting on silk. A chic storied Indian Pishwaa in deep rich colors. A lot of extra goats for extra good luck! Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Paintings

Materials

Metal