A leaf from a Bhagavata Purana: Krishna slays Kansa, North India, probably Jammu, circa 1740

gouache heighted in gold on paper, the reverse with a sketch and inscriptions

In good condition, minor losses and flaking, as viewed.
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This delicate and vibrant depiction of Krishna killing Kansa belongs to a well-known series from a Bhagavata Purana produced around 1740s and generally attributed to Jammu. Krishna is here grapping the hair of Kansa and pulling him down his throne in order to kill him. Although the layout of the scene recalls a painting now in the British Museum attributed to Basholi c.1730 (inv.nu.1966.7.25, Dallapiccola 1982, p.68) the colours of this painting are slightly lighter and the geometry of the scene is more delicate. Between 1720-50 Jammu became the leading state in the surrounding hills area, controlling Bhoti, Basholi, Bhadu, Bandralta and Mankot. Archer distinguishes two different styles typical of the middle of 18^th century: one school is affected by Mughal influences. Further to the sack of Delhi in 1739 in fact, many artists found asylum in royal courts in the Pahari Hills, the painter Nainsukh reached Jammu and by less than a decade (1748) was an established royal painter (Archer 1960, plate 81). The second school was influenced by the neighbor Basholi production although Jammu paintings are characterised by delicate and pale colours and simplified geometry (Archer, London 1960, pl. 79 and 80).

Pratapaditya Pal on the other hand attributes this series to Chamba rather than Jammu and associates it with the studio of Mahesh (Pal 1993, p.32), he also advances the hypothesis that the two paintings now in the Jane Greenough Green Collection - which are part of the same series as ours - do not belong to a Bhagavatapurana series but to a group illustrating some events from the life of Krishna (Pal 1993, p.32).

Several leaves from this series have appeared on the market, mainly in these rooms, and they are all characterized by sketches on their reverse: four leaves were offered in these rooms, 15 October 1984, lots 110-113; other four illustrations were sold in these rooms, 28 April 1981, lots 159-162; six others were sold in these rooms, 17 December 1969, lots 159-164.
Two leaves from the same series and with sketches on their reversal as well, are published in Sam Fogg, Indian Paintings and Manuscript, Catalogue 21, London, 1999, pp.88-89.