Vishnu

10th century

On View

Indian and Southeast Asian Art, Level 1, North Wing

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About the Artwork

The god Vishnu, known in Hindu traditions as the preserver of cosmic order, stands like a pillar of stability at the center of this sculpture. In one hand, he holds a mace, a weapon to combat evil. His remaining three hands, now broken, once held a lotus flower, a conch shell, and a discus (a spinning weapon) — all common attributes of Vishnu.
The figures along the top represent Vishnu’s ten avatars — forms he takes to restore balance in the universe at times of threat. These are the fish; the great tortoise; the boar; Narasimha (part-man, part-lion); Vamana, the dwarf; four heroic men, including Rama and Krishna; and the hero riding a horse, who is yet to come.
The seated figures near the top are other Hindu gods. Brahma, on the left, with three of his four faces visible, is known as the creator god. Shiva, on the right, is associated with destruction that allows for renewal. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva often appear together, representing the cosmic acts of creation, preservation, and destruction.

Title Vishnu

Artwork Date 10th century

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Indian

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Sandstone

Dimensions Overall: 45 × 25 × 10 inches, 272 pounds (114.3 × 63.5 × 25.4 cm, 123.4 kg) Mount: 25 3/4 inches × 11 inches (65.4 × 27.9 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Asian Art

Credit Gift of Robert B. Jacobs

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 2003.44

Markings

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Provenance

Mr. Ahujah (London, England);
purchased by British Private Collection;
re-acquired by Mr. Ahujah (London, England);
2001, consigned to (Eleanor Abraham Asian Art, New York, New York, USA);
2001, purchased by Robert B. Jacobs (Birmingham, Michigan, USA);
2003-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

Please note: This section is empty

The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback