Artwork
Vishnu as Narasimha
Vishnu as Narasimha is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This painting depicts Vishnu's fourth incarnation, Narasimha, a hybrid man-lion figure, executed in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper. It forms part of a diverse 196-item album, predominantly featuring native lithographs from Upper India and Bengal.
Subject & Meaning
Narasimha, a mythical figure with a human upper body and lion lower body, is portrayed with fierce facial expression and sharp claws, conveying divine power. The combination of human and animal elements embodies the mythological significance of Vishnu's incarnation.
Technique & Style
The work combines opaque watercolour with tin alloy accents on paper, resulting in bold, vibrant colors—notably white, red, yellow, and black—and simple, dramatic forms, characteristic of its regional and period style.
History & Provenance
Assembled by J. Lockwood Kipling between 1865 and 1893, the album was later donated to the museum by his son, Rudyard Kipling, in 1917, reflecting the family's collecting interests in Indian art.
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
