The Hindu God Vishnu on His Mount Garuda

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The Hindu God Vishnu on His Mount Garuda

Nepal, 7th century
Sculpture
Gray-black argillite
12 x 9 3/4 x 4 in. (30.48 x 24.77 x 10.16 cm)
From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.73.4.10)
South and Southeast Asian Art
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

Vishnu, the Hindu God of Preservation, is portrayed in this 7th-century Nepalese sculpture as riding the sunbird Garuda, his half-avian, half-human mount (vahana)....
Vishnu, the Hindu God of Preservation, is portrayed in this 7th-century Nepalese sculpture as riding the sunbird Garuda, his half-avian, half-human mount (vahana). Vishnu squats on the shoulders of Garuda, who supports his feet. Vishnu is crowned and four-armed. His upper right hand holds his discus (chakra), while his upper left carries his mace (gada). His lower right hand holds the fruit of knowledge (jñana palam), while his lower left carries a conch (sankha). Garuda’s tail feathers are depicted fanlike to form an aureole (prabhavali) behind Vishnu, who is also given a plain circular nimbus. Stylistically, the inflated volumes used in depicting Vishnu’s body derive from the Mathura school of sculpture created during the northern Indian Gupta Dynasty (4th-6th century). See also M.77.65.2, M.77.154.12, and M.86.247.2.
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Bibliography

  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. The Ideal Image : The Gupta Sculptural Tradition and Its Influence.  New York : Asia Society in association with J. Weatherhill, 1978.
  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. The Ideal Image : The Gupta Sculptural Tradition and Its Influence.  New York : Asia Society in association with J. Weatherhill, 1978.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Nepal. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1985.
  • Sivaramamurti, C. India, Ceylon, Nepal, Tibet. 2 vols. Torino, Italy: UTET, 1988.
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