Question

Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana:
(i) Mention the name of the artist and medium of the painting.
(ii) Highlight two (2) main features of the school to which the painting belongs.

Hint:

Notice how Miskin places the blue-skinned Krishna in the center, acting as a stable anchor. This contrast highlights his calm, divine nature against the swirling chaos of the storm and the crowded gathering below.

Answer 1

Step 1: Identifying Artist and Medium (Part i):

• Title: Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana
• Artist: Miskin
• School: Mughal School (Akbar Period)
• Medium: Water colour (Tempera) on paper
• Period: c. 1585-1590 AD (from the Harivamsa manuscript)

Step 2: Two Main Features of Akbar's Mughal School (Part ii):
The school during Akbar's era is celebrated for its synthesis of Persian, Hindu, and European artistic techniques:

• Complex, Crowded and Dynamic Compositions: Unlike the flat planes of Rajasthani art, Akbar's school paintings are filled with movement. Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana is populated with dozens of villagers, travelers, and animals in a variety of natural, overlapping poses, creating a lively scene.
• Stylistic Fusion and Naturalistic Elements: The painting displays Persian-style rocky cliffs painted in pastel pinks, purples, and blues, alongside realistically drawn Indian animals like deer, monkeys, and cows. The use of fine shading (pardaz) creates a sense of depth and three-dimensionality in the figures, reflecting early European influences.