Beautiful book with 5 Vibrant Miniatures Depicting Scenes from the Stories of Vishnu and Krishna

INDIAN MANUSCRIPT with 5 miniatures. Illuminated manuscript on paper. India, 18th century Text The thematic focus on Vishnu and Krishna aligns with traditional devotional practices in North and South India, where storytelling through illumination served both as a spiritual aid and as an artistic expression of divine narratives.

The entire text focuses on the stories of Vishnu and Krishna, drawn from the Mah’bh’rata, emphasizing divine legends and theological themes central to Vaishnavism. Provenance 1. Marco del Monaco Collection with ex-libris on the first card. Dimensions Folio 110 x 185 mm Writing surface 65 x 125 mm Description Composed of 39 cards, apparently complete. The text is inscribed in elegant Devanagari calligraphy arranged in a single column of six lines per page, executed in black and red ink. The writing surface is enclosed in a double polychrome frame.

The decoration includes 5 full page miniatures, painted in vivid colours and enhanced with gold leaf, depicting key episodes from Vishnu’s and Krishna’s divine incarnations, including scenes of Krishna’s childhood pastimes, Vishnu’s avatars, and divine acts of heroism. The first miniature is a fragment, originally from another copy and glued onto a white paper. Binding Bound in fabric-covered hardboard. Fairly good condition, light traces of humidity and abrasions.