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Vishnu on Garuda

Asian Art

The Hindu god Vishnu resides in a heavenly realm, but when humankind requires his help, he descends to earth to save the day, riding on the back of a part-man, part-eagle creature named Garuda. Although Vishnu’s blue color is not explained in Hindu scriptures, several Hindu pundits have suggested that his color reflects his home above the clouds. Vishnu is also closely associated with the primordial ocean that existed before the gods created land and living creatures.
CULTURE Indian
MEDIUM Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Place Made: Punjab Hills, India
  • DATES ca. 1725 or earlier
    DIMENSIONS sheet: 8 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. (22.1 x 14.6 cm) image: 7 5/16 x 4 7/8 in. (18.6 x 12.4 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 86.227.140
    CREDIT LINE Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Indian. Vishnu on Garuda, ca. 1725 or earlier. Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper, sheet: 8 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. (22.1 x 14.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.227.140 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.227.140_IMLS_PS4.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 86.227.140_IMLS_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
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