Indian. Varaha Rescuing the Earth, page from an illustrated Dasavatara series, ca. 1730–1740. Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper, Sheet: 10 1/2 x 8 1/8 in. (26.7 x 20.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, 41.1026 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1026_bw_IMLS.jpg)
Indian. Varaha Rescuing the Earth, page from an illustrated Dasavatara series, ca. 1730–1740. Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper, Sheet: 10 1/2 x 8 1/8 in. (26.7 x 20.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, 41.1026 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1026_SL1.jpg)
Varaha Rescuing the Earth, page from an illustrated Dasavatara series
Asian Art
This painting of the Varaha story shares several common elements with the two adjacent examples, which offer different solutions to the question of how to depict a fantastic, multi-episode story on a single small page. All three represent the earth as a landmass (rather than a goddess), balanced on Varaha’s head, and all make reference to the battle with the demon Hayagriva, although they signal his defeat in different ways. One artist completely ignores the aquatic setting, while the other two tackle the challenge of depicting water and partially submerged figures.
CULTURE
Indian
MEDIUM
Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
DATES
ca. 1730–1740
DIMENSIONS
Sheet: 10 1/2 x 8 1/8 in. (26.7 x 20.6 cm)
Other (Image): 8 3/8 x 6 3/16 in. (21.3 x 15.7 cm)
Other: 14 1/4 x 19 1/4in. (36.2 x 48.9cm) (show scale)
INSCRIPTIONS
Inscriptions: Takri caption on top red margin, in white pigment: Wondrous Vishnu, wondrous Varaha.
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
41.1026
CREDIT LINE
Brooklyn Museum Collection
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Indian. Varaha Rescuing the Earth, page from an illustrated Dasavatara series, ca. 1730–1740. Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper, Sheet: 10 1/2 x 8 1/8 in. (26.7 x 20.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, 41.1026 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1026_bw_IMLS.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 41.1026_bw_IMLS.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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