Vishnu reclining on the serpent Ananta (Vishnu Anantasesha), 13th century ::

Details

Place where the work was made: Orissa → India
Date: 13th century
Media category: Sculpture
Materials used: stone
Dimensions: 23.5 x 30.5 x 7.0 cm
Signature & date: Not signed. Not dated.
Credit: Gift of Dr and Mrs B.N. Beirman 1990
Location: Not on display
Accession number: 240.1990
Copyright: Reproduction requests
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About

This sculpture visualising the primordial scene of creation depicts Vishnu, the preserver of the world, reclining on the multi-headed serpent Ananta, representing endlessness or eternity. Vishnu holds his weapons, the conch and wheel (cakra) and the creator god, Brahma issues from a lotus which springs from his navel. The reclining Vishnu is attended by numerous gods including his consort Lakshmi, seated at his feet.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, April 2002

Exhibition history

Shown in 1 exhibition

East of India - forgotten trade with Australia, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, 01 Jun 2013–18 Aug 2013

Bibliography

Referenced in 3 publications

Ramesh Shankar Gupte, Iconography of the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, Mumbai, 1972.
K.V. Soundarajan, Artibus Asiae [vol. 29, no. 1], 'The typology of the Anantasayi icon', pp.67-84, United States of America, 1967, 67-84.
Heinrich Zimmer and Joseph Campbell, The art of Indian Asia: its mythology and transformations, New Jersey, 1960.

Provenance

David Jones' Art Gallery, pre 1972, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia

Dr. and Mrs. B.N. Beirman, 08 Jul 1972-27 Jun 1990, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, purchased from David Jones' Art Gallery on 8 July 1976. Donated to the Art Gallery of new South Wales, Sydney, June 1990.