TANJORE, SOUTH INDIA, LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Tanjore is well known for the large depictions of episodes of the life of Krishna. Here the artist seems to have departed from the usual subject and opted to depict Vishnu, of whom Krishna is one of the ten avatars. Between yugas or eras, Vishnu reclines on Shesha, the multi-hooded naga floating on the waters of the primordial ocean. From the deity's navel rises the lotus from which bud Brahma will appear. His consort, Lakshmi, is often depicted holding or caressing his feet.