Handpainted – Pichwai – Shrinathji Among the Cows by Moonlight

Provenance

'Shrinathji Among the Cows by Moonlight' is a crowded, joyful Pichwai painting in which cows of many colours press around the central deity beneath a golden moon. It follows the Nathdwara arrangement of a central picture within a border of small panels, and it combines the herd, the night sky and the trees in a single vertical composition.

Shrinathji stands at the centre with a flute and a green halo, framed by dark trees and banana leaves. Around him is a dense herd of white, cream, tan, pink and blue cows, and cowherds raise their hands in devotion at the sides. Above, a gold moon hangs in a starry sky between two small pavilions holding seated figures, and green lotus discs float on thin strings. Around the central picture, a border of small panels alternates cows and standing figures of Shrinathji against coloured grounds, and a lotus pond runs along the foot beneath a yellow floral outer edge.

Navy, green, yellow and the soft pinks and blues of the cows combine in a lively, layered palette. The gold of the moon and the yellow border give a warm frame to the cool night scene. Every panel is painted in careful detail, so the painting rewards a long look.