"Birth of Lord Krishna" Mughal Miniature Painting

One of the great legacies of India’s Mughal period was the flourishing of artistic expression, evident in the era's exquisitely detailed and masterfully painted miniature paintings. Traditionally extolling the virtues of courtly life, miniatures were also adapted to Hindu subject matters, as seen in this delightfully rendered painting depicting the miracle of Krishna's life. Depicted as blue due to his divine nature, Krishna was born to human parents under fraught circumstances. The center image shows Krishna’s father carrying the infant across a turbulent river during a miraculous storm that enabled his family to foil his uncle’s seemingly evil plans. Scenes from Krishna’s life surround this dramatic moment full of miracles.