{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O434331"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O434331/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GK3656/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GK3656/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GK3656","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O434331/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O434331","accessionNumber":"IS.551-1952","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"The Repentant Gopi","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"In this drawing we observe the seated sheperd looking pensive while his wife kneels before him. In the background we observe two stylised bulls. The artist has used no perspective, setting all the figures against a flat background. The sky and the ground are represented by several childish lines, these are curvilinear above and straight below.\r\n\r\nGeorge Keyt (1901–1993) was born in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and educated at Trinity College (Kandy), an elite colonial school in the British public school tradition. From a very early stage, the ancient hill capital and its Buddhist temples came to exercise a powerful and lasting influence on him, providing an artistic stimulus to his work. This interest spurred the young painter to reject the Western cultural values he had been brought up with and to explore Hindu mythology. This drawing, which depicts the mythical scene of  'The Repentant Gopi', reflects such fascination. The myth recounts how the young Krishna, by playing his flute in the forest, calls all the cowgirls (gopis), who all slip away from their husbands. After six months of erotic adventures, the disillusioned cowgirls return home and repent before their husbands.","physicalDescription":"Drawing, crayon on paper, depicting a seated shepherd resting his chin on his left hand while his left arm is raised and holds a stylised crook. Below is the figure of a repenting <i>gopi</i> (female cow herd) who kneels before the shepherd. Both her hands rest on her companion's knees. In the background we observe two stylised bulls. The figures are set against a flat background. The sky and the ground are represented by several lines, curvilinear above and straight below.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Keyt, George","id":"A19241"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"crayon","id":"x30605"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Drawn in crayon on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Animals and Wildlife","id":"THES250852"},{"text":"Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project","id":"THES263148"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2013GK3656"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES403513"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Kandy","id":"x35860"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1942","earliest":"1942-01-01","latest":"1942-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mr. Martin Russell","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"488","unit":"mm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"15/05/2013","earliest":"2013-05-15","latest":"2013-05-15"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"629","unit":"mm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"15/05/2013","earliest":"2013-05-15","latest":"2013-05-15"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"15/05/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013; object irregular in shape","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Signature and date on top right hand corner.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Given by Martin Russell. RF: 52/3622","historicalContext":"George Keyt (1901–1993) was born in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and educated at Trinity College in Kandy, an elite colonial institution modelled after the British schooling system. As child of Indo-Dutch origins, Keyt practiced drawing, developing a keen interest in art history, Indian and Western literature. The ancient hill capital of Malwatte Vihareand with its Buddhist temples came to exercise a powerful and lasting influence on his artistic and literary output. Increasingly, the artist became greatly drawn towards Sri Lankan Buddhist philosophy, leading him to champion the Buddhist revival cause. This interest spurred the young painter to reject the Western cultural values he had been brought up with and explore both Hindu mythology and Indian literary works. \r\n\r\nBy studying Buddhist and Hindu philosophies, Keyt developed closer links to the indigenous culture and Indian way of life. Towards the end of his career, the artist assimilated Western elements into his visual vocabulary such as Picasso’s cubism and Henri Matisse’s painterly flatness to paint Hindu mythological figures. During the 1930s, the artist met the Indian polymath Rabindranath Tagore in Ceylon. This meeting left a lasting impression on the artist who renewed his commitment to revitalize Indian art and culture. \r\n\r\nKeyt is also considered to be one of the most influential Sri Lankan poets. His most notable literary contribution was the translation of the Gita Govinda into English and Sinhalese. Moreover the artist illustrated both works with elegant drawings. Keyt has been exhibited internationally. His work can be found in various museums and galleries abroad, as well as in private collections around the world.","briefDescription":"Drawing, <i>The Repentant Gopi</i>, by George Keyt, drawn in crayon on paper, Kandy, 1942","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Van Gayzel, The painting of George Keyt, Van Gayzel, L.C. Marg, vol. 1.No.2, 1947, p.48"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"a seated shepherd resting his chin on his left hand while his left arm is raised and holds a stylised crook. Below is the figure of a repenting Gopi who kneels before the shepherd. Both her hands rest on her companion's knees. In the background we observe two stylised bulls. The figures are set against a flat background. The sky and the ground are represented by several lines, curvilinear above and straight below.","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"shepherd","id":"AAT25617"},{"text":"cows","id":"x30280"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.551-1952"],"accessionNumberNum":"551","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1952,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}