Krishna Holding a Flute and Dancing on a Lotus thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Krishna Holding a Flute and Dancing on a Lotus

Painting
ca. 1825 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Krishna is the most important of the ten incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. Here he is shown with his characteristic flute, a symbol of his time spent as a cowherd. When he played his flute the animals around would stand still and worship him, and the music would entice gopis (cowgirls) to come and dance with him.

Krishna is dancing on a lotus, which in Hindu mythology is a symbol of purity and creation. Although many Hindu deities are depicted standing on a lotus as an expression of their divinity, the flower is specifically associated with Vishnu and his consort, Lakshmi.

This painting is typical of a style known as ‘Company painting’. Company paintings were produced by Indian artists primarily for employees of the British East India Company, which started as a trading company based in India in the 17th century, but soon began to acquire territorial rights, until its dissolution in 1857. For their British patrons Company paintings provided a record of life in India.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleKrishna Holding a Flute and Dancing on a Lotus (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache on watermarked paper
Brief description
Krishna, the eighth avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu, holding a flute and dancing on a lotus. Probably Trichinopoly, ca. 1825.
Physical description
Krishna, the eighth avatara(incarnation) of Vishnu, holding a flute and dancing on a lotus. From a series of 100 drawings of Hindu deities created in South India.
Dimensions
  • Length: 22cm
  • Width: 18cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Inscribed with titles in Telugu with broken English translations.)
  • (watermarked paper dated 1820)
Object history
Purchased from Mr A. Churchill, 1923.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Krishna is the most important of the ten incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. Here he is shown with his characteristic flute, a symbol of his time spent as a cowherd. When he played his flute the animals around would stand still and worship him, and the music would entice gopis (cowgirls) to come and dance with him.

Krishna is dancing on a lotus, which in Hindu mythology is a symbol of purity and creation. Although many Hindu deities are depicted standing on a lotus as an expression of their divinity, the flower is specifically associated with Vishnu and his consort, Lakshmi.

This painting is typical of a style known as ‘Company painting’. Company paintings were produced by Indian artists primarily for employees of the British East India Company, which started as a trading company based in India in the 17th century, but soon began to acquire territorial rights, until its dissolution in 1857. For their British patrons Company paintings provided a record of life in India.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 30 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IM.424-1923

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Record createdOctober 2, 2002
Record URL
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