Vishnu, late 4th–5th century. Sandstone, 27 x 16 1/2 in. (68.6 x 41.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Amy and Robert L. Poster and anonymous donors, 81.203. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 81.203_PS2.jpg)
Vishnu, late 4th–5th century. Sandstone, 27 x 16 1/2 in. (68.6 x 41.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Amy and Robert L. Poster and anonymous donors, 81.203. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 81.203_back_bw_SL1.jpg)
Vishnu
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, Arts of South Asia, 2nd floor
Like the other early sculpture of Vishnu displayed here, this fragmentary figure once had four arms: two in front, holding a lotus seed and a conch shell, and two in back (now missing). The soft but athletic physique of the god is typical of Indian representations of divine males. The distinctive red sandstone was a favorite sculpting material in northern and central India for centuries; here, we can see the natural strata of the stone, made more visible by years of weathering.
MEDIUM
Sandstone
DATES
late 4th–5th century
PERIOD
Gupta Period
DIMENSIONS
27 x 16 1/2 in. (68.6 x 41.9 cm)
base: 4 in. (10.2 cm)
mount: 27 1/2 × 16 1/2 × 6 in. (69.9 × 41.9 × 15.2 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
81.203
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Amy and Robert L. Poster and anonymous donors
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Arts of South Asia, 2nd floor
CAPTION
Vishnu, late 4th–5th century. Sandstone, 27 x 16 1/2 in. (68.6 x 41.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Amy and Robert L. Poster and anonymous donors, 81.203. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 81.203_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 81.203_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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