Description
The Hindu god Vishnu incarnated himself as Krishna in response to pleadings from the Earth goddess to rid her of a wicked king. The king sent demons of many forms to assassinate Krishna, who effortlessly destroyed them. The South Indian artist effectively used a diagonal composition to show the cause and effect of Krishna’s assault and the fall of the defeated demon.
Provenance
(J.J. Klejman [1906–1995], New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1966); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1966–)
Accession Number
1966.29
Medium
gum tempera and gold on paper
Dimensions
Overall: 27.8 x 19.7 cm (10 15/16 x 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund
