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.