Vishnu as Narasimha thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Vishnu as Narasimha

Painting
mid 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting in opaque watercolour on paper, Narasimha avatar, the man-lion (fourth) incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, is shown in his usual iconographic form: he has emerged in the form of a lion-headed man from the broken pillar behind him and is tearing apart the demon Hiranyakashipu, who is draped across his knees. Two attendants stand on either side.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleVishnu as Narasimha (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, Narasimha (lion) avatar of Vishnu, opaque watercolour on paper, Rajasthan, possibly Jaipur, mid 19th century
Physical description
Painting in opaque watercolour on paper, Narasimha avatar, the man-lion (fourth) incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, is shown in his usual iconographic form: he has emerged in the form of a lion-headed man from the broken pillar behind him and is tearing apart the demon Hiranyakashipu, who is draped across his knees. Two attendants stand on either side.
Dimensions
  • Height: 217mm
  • Width: 158mm
  • Image within innermost painted borders height: 163mm
  • Image within innermost painted borders width: 111mm
29/05/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013.
Content description
Narasimha avatar, the man-lion (fourth) incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, is shown in his usual iconographic form: he has emerged in the form of a lion-headed man from the broken pillar behind him and is tearing apart the demon Hiranyakashipu, who is draped across his knees. Two attendants stand on either side.
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'Nrisingha Avatara' (handwritten in border)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs. Grace S. Anderson in memory of her husband John Anderson, M. D., C. E. O., F. R. S.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
IM.28-1917

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Record createdJuly 25, 2003
Record URL
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