Artwork
Krishna
Krishna is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 19th-century Indian painting, circa 1850, is executed in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, featuring a pivotal scene from Hindu mythology.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the wives of Kaliya, a serpent, imploring Krishna (blue-skinned, with distinctive attire and gestures) to spare their husband's life, highlighting a narrative of divine intervention and mercy.
Technique & Style
The painting blends realistic depictions of figures with impressionistic elements, set against a muted beige background. The use of tin alloy adds depth to the opaque watercolours.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a diverse album of 196 artworks collected by J Lockwood Kipling (1865-1893), it was later donated to the museum by his son, Rudyard Kipling, in 1917.
Context
The piece reflects the artistic exchange and religious themes prevalent in Upper India and Bengal during the mid-19th century, with stylistic parallels to works in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Legacy
While not individually renowned, the painting contributes to the broader understanding of 19th-century Indian artistic practices and mythological illustration.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
