Four armed Venugopala, a form of Krishna. As is the case with most of the Venugopala bronzes the flute is missing.

His rear hands are holding Chakra and Shankha, attributes of Vishnu. Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu. Venugopala is standing relaxed in Tribanga (three bends) posture, with his right leg crossing over to the left and resting on its toes. Venugopala is standing on a circular pedestal supported by an inverted lotus.

The cow standing behind him, giving him the name Gopala, is showing appreciation of the moment by licking Krishna’s feet.

Venugopala’s ornamentation is complete a crown, earrings, armbands (rather low), wristbands, waistband, anklet and multiple necklaces.

His back is worked on, as is the case with most of the bronzes from South India.

Please take time to look at the number of types of the incised pattern on the lower garments side flares.

The bronze shows signs of worship (wear and tear and remains of red powder – Kumkum). Both Chakra and Shankha have tassels helping us to date the bronze with more certainty.

Ganga Jamuna bronzes (made of two metals with brass ‘layed’ on copper) are rarer. Most of the Ganga Jamuna bronzes are from North Karnataka and date to the eighteenth century. The bronze is about 20 cm in height.

It is a robust bronze and a ‘ well fed’ Krishna as one of my dealer-friends (PKS) put it.