Head of Vishnu
AD 400s
Maker Unknown
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Head of Vishnu, AD 400s. Northern India, Mathura, Gupta period. Sandstone; overall: 28 cm (11 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1942.498 This head of Vishnu is identifiable by the squared crown typical for this deity. Its central medallion features a lion head framed by pearls. Additional strings of pearls issue from the lion’s mouth and are caught by two rampant animals (hippogriffs) that frame the medallion on both sides. Just below the lion head are two heads of makaras (aquatic monsters) with open mouths. The side of the crown has two round, plain medallions corresponding with the central one. In addition, there is a multitude of floral decoration which gives the crown a character of an intricate jewel.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Formatted Medium
- sandstone
- Medium
- sandstone
- Dimensions
- Overall: 28 cm (11 in.)
- Departments
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Accession Number
- 1942.498
- Credit Line
- Edward L. Whittemore Fund
- Exhibitions
- India's Art, 35th Anniversary Exhibition, <em>Exposition de sculptures et bronzes anciens de l'Inde</em>. C.T. Loo Inc., Paris, France (June 14–July 31, 1935)., <em>The Sculpture of Greater India</em>. C.T. Loo & Co., New York, NY (1942)., <em>Buddhist Art. Detroit Institute of Arts, Twenty-Fourth Loan Exhibition, October, 1942</em>. Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI (October 1942).
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 243 Indian and Southeast Asian
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