Krishna Subduing Kaliya

(inclusive of taxes)

All orders are insured for transit.

This item cannot be shipped outside India.

Details

Size: 12.75 x 10 inches (with mount)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: Fair condition with light spotting

Description

A fine engraving by Pierre Sonnerat from his book "Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine" (full title translated to English; “Journey to the East Indies and China made by order of the king, from 1774 to 1781. In which we deal with the customs of religion, sciences & arts of the Indians, Chinese, Pegouins & Madagascans; followed by observations on the Cape of Good Hope, the Isles of France & Bourbon, the Maldives, Ceylon, Malacca, the Philippines & the Moluccas, & research on the natural history of these countries.”) Published in late 1782. This engraving is entitled in French “Quichena; Entertille du Serpent Calengam” and depicts when a young Krishna subdued the snake Kaliya who had poisoned the River Yamuna. Krishna, the God of love and compassion, is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, but is worshipped in his own right.
Explorer Pierre Sonnerat (1748 – 1814), whose name appears to the bottom left of the image, was a French naturalist and explorer who made several voyages to south-east Asia between 1769 and 1781. In two volumes, the first deals exclusively with India, whose culture Sonnerat very much admired, and is especially noteworthy for its extended discussion of religion in India, Hinduism in particular. Volume 2 covers Sonnerat's travels to China, Burma, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka), Indonesia, and the Philippines. The book is illustrated with engravings based on Sonnerat's drawings. Among the most interesting illustrations are Sonnerat's pictures of various Hindu deities. Sonnerat was also a dedicated ornithologist and bird collector, and the book describes and depicts a number of species that he was the first to identify.

The engraving measures 11.25 x 8.5 inches without the mount and 12.75 x 10 inches with the mount.

  • ABOUT Engravings & Etchings

    During the 18th and 19th centuries, several British and European men travelled within India and produced paintings, drawings, sketches and prints documenting the architecture, landscape, flora and fauna. Amongst these travellers were historians, artists, aristocrats and army officers. Upon their return to their home countries, some of them had their books published, which serve as an excellent record of India’s history, till date. The books had prints of the artworks created by these travellers, made using different printmaking techniques such as engraving, etching, aquatint, lithography and others.

    For instance, Thomas Daniell (1749 - 1840) and his nephew William Daniell (1769 - 1837) travelled extensively in India between 1786 and 1793. Thomas Daniell was the son of an innkeeper, who began his working life as a bricklayer before becoming an assistant to the coach painter of the king. On their return to Britain, Thomas and William produced many paintings, drawings and prints based on the sketches they had made while travelling. The 144 aquatint prints, collectively known as 'Oriental Scenery', represent the single largest and most impressive project by English artists to depict Indian architecture and landscape. Another famous traveller was Prince Waldemar of Prussia, Germany, who landed in Calcutta in January 1845, while on an expedition to explore distant lands. He was accompanied by a team of military men already familiar with India, a botanist and a medical doctor. Besides being a trained military man, Waldemar was also an enthusiastic artist and created many watercolour paintings and sketches depicting his travels across India. These watercolours were turned into lithographs in Berlin on his return. ‘In Memory of the Journey of Prince Waldemar of Prussia to India in the Years 1844-1846’ was printed posthumously in two volumes in 1853, and features many of his artworks. Other travellers to India whose work prints were later published include French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat, British Army Officer Captain Charles Gold, English watercolour painter Chares Bentley, amongst others.

    Read More

You May Also Like