Artwork
Vishnu as Matsya
Vishnu as Matsya is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This painting depicts a scene from Hindu mythology, rendered in opaque watercolor on paper.
About this work
Overview
This painting depicts a scene from Hindu mythology, rendered in opaque watercolor on paper. It is part of a series illustrating the avatars of Vishnu.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork shows Vishnu in his Matsya incarnation, emerging from a fish's mouth, rescuing the Vedas from the demon Hayagriva, while Manu and the seven sages watch from a boat amidst floodwaters.
Technique & Style
The painting features bold outlines and flat colors, creating a dramatic and clear visual narrative. The use of bright yellow and white hues against a cloudy sky adds to the scene's dynamism.
Context
The work is part of a Vishnu Avatara series, suggesting a thematic focus on the various incarnations of Vishnu in Hindu mythology.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
