Artwork
Hampi (Vijayanagara): Stone pier with Krishna dancing on the snake.
Hampi (Vijayanagara): Stone pier with Krishna dancing on the snake. is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Madras. School of Industrial Arts. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This black and white photograph, taken in the late 1860s, captures a intricately carved stone pier from the Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1565) at Hampi, featuring a central statue of Krishna dancing on a serpent.
Subject & Meaning
The sculpture depicts Krishna in a dynamic pose, entwined by a coiled serpent with its head raised above the deity's. This scene likely represents a mythological narrative from Hindu mythology, highlighting the empire's religious and artistic themes.
Technique & Style
The photograph showcases the Vijayanagara Empire's architectural and sculptural prowess, with detailed, ornate carvings on the pier, pillars, and arches. The dynamic pose of Krishna reflects the empire's characteristic blend of elegance and vigor in art.
History & Provenance
Photographed by students of the School of Industrial Arts, Madras, in the late 1860s, the print was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1871 from Dr. A. Hunter. One of two known copies in the museum, handwritten inscriptions on the mount detail its subject and origin.
Artist & collection
Artist
Madras. School of Industrial Arts
This group of photographers—working in the 1860s in Madras—liked to camp out at ancient ruins with their unwieldy cameras, waiting for the light to hit the stones just right.
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