19th Century Indian Tanjore Painting of Young Krishna

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...

Exquisite 19th-century oil miniature depicting a traditional Indian subject, finely executed with remarkable attention to detail. The painting captures the elegance and craftsmanshi...