Krishna subduing the Naga Kaliya
Here, Krishna suppresses an evil serpent king, the nagaraja Kaliya, who is poisoning the river Yamuna in north India. This is one of the heroic acts undertaken by the youthful Krishna to combat evil and restore order (dharma) to the world, which is celebrated in the sacred text the Bhagavata Purana. The Newari metalworking community of the Kathmandu Valley excelled in copper alloy repoussé. As the premier artists of this art form, they not only supplied both the Hindu and Buddhist communities of Nepal but were in demand throughout the Tibetan plateau
Artwork Details
- Title: Krishna subduing the Naga Kaliya
- Date: 17th century
- Culture: Nepal
- Medium: Gilt copper repoussé
- Dimensions: H. 15 in. (38.1 cm); W. 12 in. (30.5 cm); D. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Zimmerman Family Collection, Gift of the Zimmerman Family, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019
- Object Number: 2019.292
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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