Unknown
The Hindu God Vishnu13th century

Not on view

Standing four-armed bronze sculpture with green patina, ornate crown, jewelry, and lotus-petal base, holding a disc and conch shell in raised outer hands

Bronze sculpture of a four-armed standing deity viewed from the back, wearing a tall crown, elaborate jewelry, and dhoti with decorative belt, holding attributes in raised hands, standing on a lotus pedestal with green patinated surface and finely cast ornamental details.

Bronze sculpture of a four-armed standing deity viewed from behind, with green patina, wearing a tall cylindrical crown, ornate jewelry, and a dhoti with detailed pleating, standing on a lotus pedestal.

Bronze sculpture of a four-armed standing deity on a lotus pedestal, wearing a tall cylindrical crown and elaborate jewelry, holding a chakra and conch in the upper hands, with green patinated surface and finely cast ornamental details.

Bronze sculpture of a four-armed deity with green patina, wearing an elaborate cylindrical crown and layered necklaces, holding a conch shell and a chakra, with finely cast jewelry and ornamental details throughout.

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: The Hindu God Vishnu
Place Made: India, Tamil Nadu
Date Made: 13th century
Medium: Copper alloy
Dimensions: 40 1/4 x 18 x 7 3/4 in. (102.23 x 45.72 x 19.68 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Anna Bing Arnold
Accession Number: M.70.5.1
Classification: Sculpture
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: These separate copper alloy (bronze) representations of the Hindu god Vishnu flanked by his wives Shridevi (or Lakshmi) and the earth goddess Bhudevi form a Vaishnava matrimonial triad (M.70.5.1-.3). Originally made as processional images, each deity stands on a double lotus base cut with holes for attaching them to the support poles.

Vishnu wears a tall crown (kirita mukuta), a striped lower garment adorned with a “Face of Glory” (kirttimukha) medallion, and is heavily ornamented. He stands in a stiff, frontal pose (samapada sthanaka). He has four arms. In his upper right hand, he holds his discus (chakra). His lower right hand is held in the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra). In his upper left hand, he carries his flaming conch (shankha). His lower left hand hangs by his side and once rested on the handle of his now-missing mace (gada).
Selected Bibliography: Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
El Universo de la India: Obras Maestras del Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Angeles. Santiago: Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda, 2012.

Related Unframed

Unknown
The Hindu God Vishnu13th century

Not on view

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: The Hindu God Vishnu
Place Made: India, Tamil Nadu
Date Made: 13th century
Medium: Copper alloy
Dimensions: 40 1/4 x 18 x 7 3/4 in. (102.23 x 45.72 x 19.68 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Anna Bing Arnold
Accession Number: M.70.5.1
Classification: Sculpture
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: These separate copper alloy (bronze) representations of the Hindu god Vishnu flanked by his wives Shridevi (or Lakshmi) and the earth goddess Bhudevi form a Vaishnava matrimonial triad (M.70.5.1-.3). Originally made as processional images, each deity stands on a double lotus base cut with holes for attaching them to the support poles.

Vishnu wears a tall crown (kirita mukuta), a striped lower garment adorned with a “Face of Glory” (kirttimukha) medallion, and is heavily ornamented. He stands in a stiff, frontal pose (samapada sthanaka). He has four arms. In his upper right hand, he holds his discus (chakra). His lower right hand is held in the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra). In his upper left hand, he carries his flaming conch (shankha). His lower left hand hangs by his side and once rested on the handle of his now-missing mace (gada).
Selected Bibliography: Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
El Universo de la India: Obras Maestras del Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Angeles. Santiago: Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda, 2012.

Related Unframed

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