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The Vedic god Agni, the god of fire and guardian of the south-east

Unknown

1820

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Vedic god Agni, the god of fire and guardian of the south-east is a 1820 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1820 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a man riding a black goat. He's wearing a tall, spiky crown and a colorful outfit with lots of jewels. The man is holding a staff in each hand, and he has four arms. The goat is decorated with a fancy blanket and a harness with bells. The man's clothes and the goat's blanket have lots of patterns and colors. The background of the painting is a light beige color. The painting looks old and has some writing at the bottom that we can't read. If you like this style, you might want to check out the Romanticism movement.

The story of this work

Overview

The Vedic deity Agni, associated with fire and the south-east direction, is depicted riding a black goat, with fiery-colored skin. He has four arms and four faces, one of which is partially obscured, and holds a staff and a fire-fan in two of his hands while guiding the goat with another; his fourth hand rests on his chest.

Read the full account in the museum source.