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Collections

Unknown
The Hindu God Vishnu on His Mount Garudacirca 9th century

Not on view
Dark gray stone relief sculpture of a four-armed deity standing above a small animal on a stepped pedestal, with heavily weathered surface
Fragmentary dark metal relief sculpture depicting a multi-armed deity seated in a niche with a pointed arch, flanked by smaller attendant figures, with heavily worn and corroded surface
Small bronze sculpture of a multi-armed seated deity on a tiered pedestal, with an animal-headed figure standing at the left side; rough, heavily textured cast surface with dark patina.
Small metal plaque with arched top, heavily corroded gray surface with pitting and holes throughout, mounted on a display stand; accession number handwritten in white at base.
Small bronze relief plaque depicting a multi-armed deity in a frontal stance, crowned and adorned with ornaments, standing above a crouching animal figure on a stepped base, with dark green patina and rough-textured surface.
Bronze sculpture, close-up of a deity figure with crown and multiple arms, set against a weathered aureole, heavily corroded dark surface against a black background.
Fragment of a dark bronze or stone relief sculpture, showing a seated figure with ornamental headdress flanked by attendant figures, beside a stepped architectural element; rough, weathered surface texture throughout.

Unknown, The Hindu God Vishnu on His Mount Garuda, circa 9th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Indian Art Special Purpose Fund, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Artist or Maker
Unknown
Title
The Hindu God Vishnu on His Mount Garuda
Place Made
Indonesia, Central Java
Date Made
circa 9th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
5 x 3 x 1 1/4 in. (12.7 x 7.6 x 3.2 cm)
Credit Line
Indian Art Special Purpose Fund
Accession Number
M.77.65.2
Classification
Sculpture
Collecting Area
South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes

Vishnu, the Hindu God of Preservation is depicted here riding his mount (vahana), the sunbird Garuda, as he traverses the universe preserving it (see also M.73.4.10 and M.86.247.2). The crowned Vishnu has four arms. In his upper right hand, he holds a discus (chakra), while in his upper left hand he carries a mace (gada). His lower right hand probably holds a conch (shankha) and his lower left hand carries a now-damaged lotus (padma). Vishnu sits in the relaxed posture (lalita asana) on a throne with as plain aureola (prabhavali). Garuda is proportionally small in stature with a human body and a crowned avian head.

Selected Bibliography

  • Brown, Robert L. Southeast Asian Art at LACMA: An Online Scholarly Catalogue. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2013. Accessed June 25, 2024. http://seasian.catalog.lacma.org/.