Vishnu as Balarama
Figure
mid 19th century (made)
mid 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Figure of Balarama, the brother of Krishna, holding a plough with a short shaft in his left hand: his right hand hangs down and is outstretched. A similar figure of Balarama, 594(IS) shows the figure resting his outstretched hand on the top of a club (gada), which is often associated with this image as he is described as a skilful teacher of fighting with a club in the Mahabharata. He stands on a lotus plinth which slots into a tiered base decorated with lotus petals, beading, and a patterning of lattice and circles.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Vishnu as Balarama (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Copper alloy, cast |
| Brief description | Vishnu as Balarama; sculpture, copper alloy, South India |
| Physical description | Figure of Balarama, the brother of Krishna, holding a plough with a short shaft in his left hand: his right hand hangs down and is outstretched. A similar figure of Balarama, 594(IS) shows the figure resting his outstretched hand on the top of a club (gada), which is often associated with this image as he is described as a skilful teacher of fighting with a club in the Mahabharata. He stands on a lotus plinth which slots into a tiered base decorated with lotus petals, beading, and a patterning of lattice and circles. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in London to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1879. The India Museum Slips, No. 304, describe this image as 'Vishnu as Ramachandra' received from 'Madras, Exh. 1855'. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 529(IS) |
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| Record created | July 31, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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