J.46,1-10 Ten illustrations of the avatar’s’ of Visnu. Bengal, c.1775-80. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Each picture numbered 1-10 on r ...
Scope & Content:
J.46,1-10 Ten illustrations of the avatar’s’ of Visnu. Bengal, c.1775-80. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Each picture numbered 1-10 on reverse in Persian numerals. Gouache with gold; on album pages with gilt-sprinkled mauve and plain borders. Page 303 by 210 mm.
Rama avatar (Ramachandra). 160 by 103 mm. Rama and Lakshmana are in combat with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Hanuman is about to drop a boulder from above. At the top Sita is visited by Hanuman during her imprisonment.
Krishna avatar. 153 by 96 mm. Vasudeva bears his infant son Krishna across the Jumna to the foster-mother Yasoda, as a serpent and lion rise in adoration on either side. Devaki is on the right with the substituted baby; Yasoda waits with a companion on the other side of the river; Brahma pres...
Buddha avatar. 154 by 98 mm. A four-armed goddess sits on a lotus with Brahmins standing in worship on either side. Note: Painters at this date had little knowledge of Buddhist iconography. For the Buddha they sometimes used Jain images and sometimes the goddess Chandi Devi, as in this case.
Matsya avatar (the Fish) . 155 by 97 mm. Visnu emerges from the jaws of a fish holding leaves of the Vedas which he has rescued from the sea. The demon culprit Hayagriva lies stricken beneath the fish’s tail. Two Brahmins stand in adoration.
Kurma avatar (the Tortoise) . 149 by 101 mm. The gods and demons churn the ocean with the serpent Vasuki and Mount Mandara with Visnu seated aloft. Some of the lost items are shown recovered: Fortune, the cow of plenty, Indra’s elephant, the horse Uchchaihsravas, the tree and the bottles of n...
Varaha avatar (the Boar). 149 by 96 mm. Visnu, boar-headed, raises the earth from the waters upon his tusks, as the demon Hiranyaksha is stricken beneath him. A boar stands in the foreground.
Narasimha avatar (the Man-lion). 150 by 97 mm. Visnu, lion-headed, emerges from a stone pillar to disembowel the blasphemous Hiranyakasipu. The devout Prahlada is suspended from the roof by his ankles and wrists. The queen and a Brahmin stand in adoration on the left.
Vamana avatar (the Dwarf). 149 by 99 mm. Visnu in his dwarf form asks Bali for the boon of as much land as he can step over in three strides; Bali pours water over his hands. Sumitra, the officiating priest, stands on the right and Prahlada is on the left.