Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, c. 1780–90
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Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan

c. 1780–90

Medium
gum tempera and gold on paper
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
Image: 20.6 x 14 cm (8 1/8 x 5 1/2 in.); with borders: 21.6 x 15.2 cm (8 1/2 x 6 in.)
Culture
Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Kangra
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art, Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Credit line
John L. Severance Fund
Rights
Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

Krishna supports Mount Govardhan with nothing but his little finger as he gazes into the eyes of his favorite cowherd girl, Radha, and pats the head of a child. His brother Balarama, with white skin and a blue garment, adds further support with a staff. The cows and members of the herding community all cluster close to Krishna, sheltered from the raging storm sent by Indra riding his white elephant in the sky.