Varaha avatar (the Boar). 221 by 154 mm; page 333 by 248 mm. Visnu, boar-headed, balances the world on his tusks. Standing in reverence on either side are Garuda, Jambavat, Brahma, Siva and Indra. Hiranyaksha lies conquered in the waters below.
Narasimha avatar (the Man-lion). Inscribed above in nagari:’ Narasimha.’ 222 by 151 mm; page 333 by 248 mm. The lion-headed Visnu emerges from a stone pillar to disembowel the blasphemous Hiranyakasipu. Prahlada stands by with head averted.
Vamana avatar (the Dwarf). 223 by 151 mm; page 333 by 248 mm. Visnu in his dwarf form completes the strides which carry him to the upper region where four figures pour the Ganges from water-pots. One of four wrestlers clings to Visnu’s foot, but the other three have fallen beneath. Bali watc...
Rama avatar. Inscribed above in nagari:’ Rama.’ 220 by 153 mm; page 333 by 248 mm. Hanuman stands before Rama who is sitting on a hillock with Sita and Lakshmana.
Bhairavi Ragini. By Fath Chand, Mughal, c.1760. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Inscribed beneath in Persian: ‘‘amal-i rai fath chand’ (the work of Rai Fath Chand); numbered 12 in Persian inventory note; on reverse: ‘bhairavi.’ Gouache with gold; oval with blue spandrels decorat...
Khambhavati Ragini. By Gobind Singh, Lucknow, c.1780. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Inscribed above in Persian: ‘tasvir-i brahma ma‘ah brahmani’ (a picture of Brahma with Brahmani); below: ‘‘amal-i gobind singh’ (the work of Gobind Singh); on reverse: an offset impression of a ...
Balarama avatar. Amber, c.1720. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Gouache with gold; on album pages with gilt-sprinkled mauve and plain borders. Numbered 77 in Persian inventory note. 220 by 155 mm; page 305 by 207 mm. Balarama diverts the river Jumna with his ploughshare. He i...
Faizabad, c.1770-80. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Numbered 60 in Persian inventory note. Gouache with gold; narrow gold border. 280 by 209 mm; page 287 by 216 mm. With his hand upraised to hold up the mountain of Govardhan, a young Krishna protected his friends and the cows f...
Krishna avatar. Amber, c.1720. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Gouache with gold; on album pages with gilt-sprinkled mauve and plain borders. Numbered 82 in Persian inventory note. 217 by 152 mm; page 303 by 206 mm. An image of Krishna is seated in a shrine between images of B...
A prince holding discourse in the countryside. Mughal, c.1600. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Numbered 5 in Persian inventory note (using the word ‘nigarashta).’ Coloured drawing on cotton; on an album leaf; blue and uncoloured paper borders. 196 by 123 mm; page 265 by 176 mm....