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
	<i>Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation)</i>. 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. <br><br>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