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Not on display

Ten incarnations of Vishnu

Scroll Drawing
ca. 1771 - ca. 1779 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Andhra Pradesh (made)

This is a detail from a horizontal scroll-painting depicting Hindu deities. It is a Company painting (the name given to paintings made by Indian artists for the British in India). William Marsden, who served in Sumatra as an East India Company writer between 1771 and 1779, acquired it. In 1785 he established an East India Agency business in London and later became First Secretary to the Admiralty. He devoted himself to scholarly pursuits relating to Asia, and in 1783 he published a 'History of Sumatra'. He presented this scroll to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1828. In 1924 the Society gave it to the V&A.

Object details

Categories
Access to Images
Images Online
Indian Company Paintings
India Museum
Object type
Scroll drawing
TitleTen incarnations of Vishnu
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and gold on paper
Paper
Watercolour
Painted
Brief description
Watercolour and gold on paper, Scroll drawing of ten incarnations of Vishnu, South India, early 19th century.
Physical description
Company Painting depicting ten incarnations of Vishnu: the fish, turtle, boar, man-lion, dwarf, Rama with an axe, Rama with a bow, Rama with a plough, Vishnu as the Buddha, and Vishnu as a warrior on a white horse. Beneath each figure is an inscription in Telugu. South India, early 19th century.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26cm
  • Width: 113cm
Style
Company
Marks and inscriptions
  • '1. The Fish denotes the fatal day / When Earth beneath the Waters lay. / Macha Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; English; Roman; beneath figure)
    Translation
    The fish incarnation of Vishnu (Matsya avatara)
  • '2. Th'amphibious Turtle marks the time / When it again the shores could climb. / Koorma Awataram.' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    The turtle incarnation of Vishnu (Kurma avatara)
  • '3. The Boar's an emblem of the God / Who raised again the mighty clod. / Waraha Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    The boar incarnation of Vishnu (Varaha avatara)
  • '4. The Lion-king and savage trains / Now roam the woods, o[r] graze the [plains]. / Narasheem Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    The man-lion incarnation of Vishnu (Narasimha avatara)
  • '5. Next [came the] Little Man's reign / Oe'r earth an[d wa]try' main / Wamana Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    The dward incarnation of Vishnu (Vamana avatara)
  • '6. Ram with the Axe then takes his stand, / Fells the thick forests - clears the land. / Parasurama Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    Rama with the Axe (Parasurama avatara)
  • '7. Ram with the Bow 'gainst tyrants fight[s] / And thus defends the people's rights. / Shreerama Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    Rama with the bow (Rama avatara)
  • '8. Ram with the Plough turns up the soil, / And teaches man for food to toil. / Balarama Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    Rama with the Plough (Balarama avatara)
  • '9. Buddha for Reformation came, / And formed a Sect well known to fame. / Boodha Awataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    Vishnu as the Buddha (Buddha avatara).
  • '10. When Kalki mounts his milk white Steed, / Heav'n, Earth, and all will then recede! / Kalkeekawataram' (Inscription; decoration; Beneath figure)
    Translation
    Vishnu as a warrior on a white horse (Kalki avatara)
Credit line
Given by The Royal Asiatic Society of London
Object history
Lent by the Royal Asiatic Society of London to the India Museum. Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in November 1879. Renumbered in 1924.
Subjects depicted
Fish
Turtle
Boar
Lion
Dwarf
Axe
Bows (Weapons)
Plough
Horse
Vishnu
Summary
This is a detail from a horizontal scroll-painting depicting Hindu deities. It is a Company painting (the name given to paintings made by Indian artists for the British in India). William Marsden, who served in Sumatra as an East India Company writer between 1771 and 1779, acquired it. In 1785 he established an East India Agency business in London and later became First Secretary to the Admiralty. He devoted himself to scholarly pursuits relating to Asia, and in 1783 he published a 'History of Sumatra'. He presented this scroll to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1828. In 1924 the Society gave it to the V&A.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. 'Company Paintings : Indian Paintings of the British Period.' London: Victoria and Albert Museum; Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1992. pp.22-24, ill. ISBN 0-944142-30-3
Other number
08113(IS) - India Museum Catalogue Number
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IM.561-1924

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O17944/ten-incarnations-of-vishnu-scroll-drawing-unknown/
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