Krishna as the flute-playing cowherd (Venugopala)
Dateca. 1700 - 1900
Maker
Indian
, probably Odisha
Label TextAlthough now missing his flute, which might have been precious metal, the posture of Krishna’s hands shows that he is the handsome boy who tempted the village women into the forest with his magical music. His pink-tinted palms emphasize his beauty and his elaborate dress is that of a prince rather than a cowherd. This delicate carving displays an extraordinary level of craftsmanship which, along with the use of expensive ivory, shows it to have been made for a very wealthy patron.
Object number68.91
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing.Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions6 3/4 x 2 3/8 x 2 inches
MediumIvory and pigments
Indian
ca. second half of the 9th century
Object number: 48.166
Indian
ca. 1500 - 1700
Object number: 66.6
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