Nandi Pichwai Painting from Rajasthan - 20thC

This vibrant Nandi Pichwai painting was produced in the Nathdwara tradition of Rajasthan and dates to around 1980. The celestial register at the top is anchored by the moon god Chandra, whose cool, auspicious lunar radiance evokes serenity and the night time setting of many of Krishna’s divine līlās. To Chandra’s right, Radha and Krishna are shown together in a cow headed celestial palanquin, a symbolic vehicle expressing purity, abundance and the devotional union between the divine and the devotee. To his left sits Saraswati, the goddess of learning and music, riding her traditional hamsa (swan) vahana and holding her instrument, embodying wisdom, refined arts and the creative clarity that underpins spiritual understanding.

The main field is filled with sixteen stylised Nandi cows, arranged in rhythmic rows with dotted markings, garlands and painted ornaments characteristic of late 20th century Nathdwara Pichwai ateliers. Beneath the herd lies a serene lotus filled pond above a stepped architectural ledge, and the textile is framed throughout with brightly coloured floral and geometric borders. The composition harmonises lunar calm, divine love, sacred learning and the sanctity of the cow into a unified expression of Vaishnava devotion.

• Origin: Nathdwara, Rajasthan, India
• Date: Circa 1980
• Materials: Hand painted textile with cloth border
• Features: Chandra; Radha and Krishna in a cow headed palanquin; Saraswati on her hamsa vahana; sixteen stylised Nandi cows; lotus pond; multicoloured floral and geometric borders; devotional Devanagari inscription
• Condition: Minor age related wear consistent with age
• Dimensions: W69 × H101 cm