This beautiful Thanjavur reverse glass painting depicts Kalinga Mardhana Krishna. The painting depicts the story when a young Krishna subdued the dangerous multi-headed snake Kaliya who had poisoned the River Yamuna. Krishna stands with one foot on the snake’s hoods and the other on the back of the subdued Kaliya. In his left hand he holds the flute, dressed in rich clothes and jewels. Krishna has a peacock feather in his topknot and is adorned with numerous gold jewellery pieces including bracelets, anklets and necklaces. Yamuna is depicted as a circular lotus filled pool. Krishna, the God of love and compassion, is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, but is worshipped in his own right. He has always been one of the most popular deities in Southern India and so is frequently depicted in paintings of the classical traditions.
There are some marks and time related wear and tear on the painting.