Four-Armed God Vishnu
India (Uttar Pradesh, possibly Allahabad region)
c. 5th century
- Medium
- Sandstone
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Dimensions
- 84.8 × 44.2 × 16.6 cm (33 3/8 × 17 3/8 × 6 1/2 in.)
- Culture
- Uttar Pradesh
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of Asia
- Credit line
- James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection. Gift of Marilynn Alsdorf
- Rights
- Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed
View at the Art Institute of Chicago
About this work
One of the principal gods of Hinduism, Vishnu is regarded as the preserver of the universe. He stands regally in this sculpture from the Gupta period, wearing a simple crown and a long garland. Originally four-armed, he would have held weapons—a mace, conch, and discus—in three hands. This early image includes a round object, variously interpreted as the earth or a fruit, in his lowered fourth hand. In later images of Vishnu, this hand typically holds a lotus.
Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0
