The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 24, 2024

Vishnu Riding on Garuda

Vishnu Riding on Garuda

300s CE
schist
Overall: 81.3 x 47 cm (32 x 18 1/2 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1961.46
Location: 243 Indian and Southeast Asian

Description

In a rare and powerful work from this period, Vishnu straddles his vehicle, the man-eagle called Garuda, here shown with a human head, wings outstretched, and tail feathers expanding like rays of light behind the head of the god. Garuda is the enemy of serpents, and a subjugated serpent is tied around his neck. His determined expression lends confidence that he will do anything in his power to support Vishnu in his accomplishments. Tiny worshippers kneel in veneration before the imposing figures.

Each of Vishnu's hands holds an implement: discus, mace, conch, and citron fruit. On his chest is an auspicious symbol called the shrivatsa, or "child" (vatsa) of Shri, the goddess of good fortune and a wife of Vishnu.
  • ?-1961
    (Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1961-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Lee, Sherman E. “Year in Review 1961.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 48, no. 9, 1961, pp. 219–251. Mentioned: no. 52, listed p. 249; Reproduced: no. 52, p. 236 25142473
    "Annual Report for 1961.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 49, no. 6, 1962, pp. 115–145. Mentioned: p. 129 25151899
    Marcus, Margaret F. “Sculptures from Bihar and Bengal.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 54, no. 8, 1967, pp. 240–262. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 241, fig. 1 25152173
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 294 archive.org
    Sugimura, Tō 杉村棟. Isurāmu イスラーム. Tōkyō: Shōgakukan, 1999. no. 206, p. 323
    Parimoo, Ratan. Essays in New Art History: Studies in Indian Sculpture: Regional Genres and Interpretations. New Delhi: Books & Books, 2000. no. 98
    Bidwell, Frederick E. and Leslie Cade. The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art ; New York, NY: Scala Arts Publishers, 2014. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 204
  • The Ideal Image: The Gupta Sculptural Tradition and Its Influence. Asia House Galleries, New York City, NY (organizer) (October 5-December 3, 1978); Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX (January 1-February 25, 1979); The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (March 24-May 6, 1979).
    Year in Review (1961). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 1-26, 1961).
  • {{cite web|title=Vishnu Riding on Garuda|url=false|author=|year=300s CE|access-date=24 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1961.46