Vishnu on Ananta / Artist Unknown, India, Kashmir
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1985/1.132
- Title
- Vishnu on Ananta
- Artist Nationality
- Indian
- Medium and Support
- opaque watercolor and gold on paper
- Object Creation Date
- 18th century
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Kashmir (general region)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Kashmir (general region)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Professor Walter M. and Nesta R. Spink
- Dimensions
- 13.3 cm x 22.8 cm (5 1/4 in. x 9 in.)
- Century
- 18th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Painting
- Primary Object Type
- narrative painting
- Physical Description
- Two figures in a landscape; one a reclining blue-skinned figure, the other a seated female
- Subject Matter
- In one version of the Hindu origin myth, Brahma the Creator emerges from Vishnu’s navel, while Vishnu as Narayana reclines on the coiled body of an enormous serpent, Ananta (literally meaning “endless”). In paintings depicting the event, Vishnu’s consort Lakshmi rubs his feet while Brahma rises from the bud of a lotus. Most often, the source of cosmic origination—Vishnu’s navel—occupies the center of the composition.
- This painting was made in the northern Indian region of Kashmir in the 18th century, by which time illustrations of religious subjects incorporated many features of royal painting. Note that Krishna and Radha relax on richly embroidered bolsters wearing contemporary jeweled armbands and necklaces. Artists had developed skills rendering these minute details in portrayals of courtly events, at which nobles and courtiers donned elaborate textiles and jewelry.
- Secondary Keywords
- animals
- asian
- figures
- hindu
- named gods and goddesses
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people and occupations
- people by state or condition
- plants
- religion
- religions
- south asian
- styles and periods
- styles and periods by region
- subject matter
- the natural world
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 1184 x 728
- File Size
- 109 KB
- Record
- 1985/1.132
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1985-sl-1.132/1985_1.132.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1985-SL-1.132:1985_1.132.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Vishnu on Ananta; Artist Unknown, India, Kashmir." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1985-sl-1.132/1985_1.132.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 24, 2024.
