{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1807061"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1807061/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PP7665/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PP7665/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PP7665","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1807061","accessionNumber":"IS.2-2026","objectType":"painting","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Upper section of a <i>simhasana</i> painting on cloth showing a bejewelled empty throne or <i>gadda</i> in the centre with a large bolster on it and gold ewer covered by a red cloth and jewel box in front of it. On either side is a dancing woman.They are set against a green, grassy background with a dark blue sky bove it with white flowers falling through it. There is a red border with white chevrons, each with repeated floral sprigs on it. The painting is a wide rectangle in shape except that the two upper corners are at a shallow diagonal.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"Paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted on cloth","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2026PP7665"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"TR007","id":"THES394653"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Udaipur","id":"x32579"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Nathadwara","id":"x36712"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1900","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Collection of Shakuntala Masani, bequest by her son Zareer","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"60","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"estimated dimensions from viewing and photography, exact dimensions to be supplied when we have access to the painting again"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"100","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"estimated dimensions from viewing and photography, exact dimensions to be supplied when we have access to the painting again"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The <i>simhasana </i>or ‘lion throne’ cloth is made to be draped over the pedestal of a statue of Srinathji, a very popular form of the god Krishna whose principal temple or <i>haveli i</i>s a Nathdwara in Rajasthan. This is sacred to the Vallabha Sampradaya sect, who follow the Pushti Marg or ‘way of grace’. Srinathji is a form of Krishna as a child, growing up among the villagers of Brindaban, who lifts up Mount Govardhan with his little finger to shelter the local cowherds from a storm sent by the god Indra, who was infuriated by Krishna advising the people not to worship him. The sacred stone image of Krishna at Nathdwara is believed to be a manifestation of the living deity that was found by villagers on Mount Govardhan and installed for worship by the religious teacher Vallabha in the 15th century before being moved to Nathdwara for safety in 1671. \nThe <i>simhasana</i> would have been used in conjunction with a <i>pichwai</i>, a large painted cloth hung behind a statue of Srinathji. \nSince the statue stands on the central part of the <i>simhasana</i> cloth, the middle is usually left blank and this has not been preserved, the cloth here being only the top, painted portion.\nThe painting came from a collection purchased in India by Shakuntala Masani, an author and well-known political and society figure in India. It was inherited by her son, the historian Dr Zareer Masani (born Bombay 1947, died Europe 2024), who bequeathed the painting to the V&amp;A. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Top section of a <i>Simhasana</i> painting on cloth to be placed on the pedestal of Srinathji statue, with two dancing <i>gopis</i> and an empty throne (<i>gaddi</i>). Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.2-2026"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":2026,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-26","recordCreationDate":"2025-07-21","availableToBook":false}}