Dancing Krishna holding butter-balls / Artist Unknown, India, Tamil Nadu
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1976/2.42
- Title
- Dancing Krishna holding butter-balls
- Artist Nationality
- Indian
- Medium and Support
- copper alloy with gilt
- Object Creation Date
- 17th century - 18th century
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- India (nation)
- Tamil Nadu (state)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- India (nation)
- Creation Place 3
- Tamil Nadu (state)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel
- Style/Group/Movement
- miniature copper
- Dimensions
- 11.5 cm x 8.3 cm x 5.5 cm (4 1/2 in. x 3 1/4 in. x 2 3/16 in.)
- Century
- 17th-18th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Sculpture
- Primary Object Type
- figure
- Physical Description
- small bronze figurine made by lost wax process. The child Krishna dances on one leg with his right one raised. He hold balls of butter in his hands, one outstretched to this side and the right one extended forward as if offering it to the viewer. He stands on a round lotus base placed on a square slab. He is naked, but is decorated with a vast assortment of jewelry. Necklaces that cross his chest and drop to his waist, decorated belts, shoulder pieces, rings, bracelets and earrings and elaborate decorations on his head fanning out from his ears and decorating his hair which is arranged in a flat chignon on the top of his head.
- Subject Matter
- Krishna as a child, dancing. Krishna, a human incarnation of the god Vishnu, is extremely popular in Hinduism as is the object of worship in many temples and homes. He is worshipped in a variety of roles, that of epic hero, lover and as a child. Representing Bhakti, a medieval religious movement within Hinduism that relies on Faith, direct contact with the god, here he is loved as a child. One projects oneself into the role of a parent for the playful child Krishna. This represents one of his childish pranks, stealing butter. He is so delighted with his antics that he dances in glee.
- Secondary Keywords
- arts
- arts and related disciplines
- associated concepts
- disciplines
- hindu
- humanities
- named gods and goddesses
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by age group
- people by state or condition
- performing arts
- religion
- religions
- religions and religious concepts
- subject matter
- vishnu
- youth
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 859 x 1131
- File Size
- 71 KB
- Record
- 1976/2.42
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1976-sl-2.42/1976_2.42.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1976-SL-2.42:1976_2.42.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Dancing Krishna holding butter-balls; Artist Unknown, India, Tamil Nadu." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1976-sl-2.42/1976_2.42.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 28, 2024.
