id: 162511 accession number: 2003.153 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.153 updated: 2022-02-09 20:58:45.642000 A Serpent Protects Vasudeva Taking His Infant Son Krishna to Safety, c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Watercolor, graphite, ink, and tin on paper; painting only: 45 x 27.7 cm (17 11/16 x 10 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.153 title: A Serpent Protects Vasudeva Taking His Infant Son Krishna to Safety title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1890 creation date earliest: 1885 creation date latest: 1905 current location: creditline: Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward copyright: --- culture: Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat technique: Watercolor, graphite, ink, and tin on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Painting only: 45 x 27.7 cm (17 11/16 x 10 7/8 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation) opening date: 2021-09-01T04:00:00 Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE William E. Ward [1922-2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art date: ?-2003 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 2003- footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: In the lower right, the name Vasudeva is written in the Bengali dialect as “Bashoodeva.” digital description: In the dead of night, Krishna was born to parents who were imprisoned by his evil uncle, the usurper king Kamsa. While a goddess compelled the guards to sleep, Krishna’s father Vasudeva, in the middle of a storm, spirited the newborn to safety in a cowherd village, where he exchanged Krishna for another infant. In the morning, Kamsa murdered the infant he thought was the child of Vasudeva, and Krishna lived to be raised by the herders. wall description: In the dead of night, Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, was born to parents who were imprisoned by his mother’s brother, the demonic usurper king Kamsa. While a goddess compelled the guards to sleep, Krishna’s father Vasudeva (written “Bashoodeva” in the lower right), spirited the newborn Krishna in the middle of a storm to safety in a cowherd village, protected by Vishnu’s primordial serpent, as featured in this painting.

Vasudeva exchanged Krishna for another newborn infant. In the morning, Kamsa murdered the infant he thought was the child of Vasudeva, and Krishna lived to be raised by the cow herders. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.153/2003.153_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.153/2003.153_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.153/2003.153_full.tif