Narasimha, the man-lion, the fourth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu
1825
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1825
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Narasimha, the man-lion, the fourth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu is a 1825 paint by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This figure has the body of a lion and the face of a man. Its fur is bright yellow with red stripes, and its human face has big eyes, a fierce grin, and sharp fangs. The figure wears a colorful, patterned outfit with purple and gold, holding a golden wheel in one hand and a small figure in the other. The painting’s bold colors and dramatic pose match the style of Romanticism, which often mixed fantasy with emotion. Look up Romanticism next to see how this style spread across art and literature.
Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Vishnu, is depicted as a man-lion in this 1825 artwork. The sculpture portrays the deity in a hybrid form, combining human and lion features to symbolize the slaying of the demon Hiranya-kasipu. The Sanskrit terms *nara* (man) and *simha* (lion) define the composite figure’s identity.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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