Vamana
1825
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1825
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Vamana is a 1825 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a green-skinned figure holding a golden pot in one hand and a purple parasol in the other. The figure wears a red-and-yellow sash, beaded necklaces, and a headpiece with a feather. Bright colors stand out against the light background. The figure’s pose and accessories suggest a story from Hindu tradition. The writing below hints at a tale about a king and a dwarf-like figure. Look up Romanticism to see how this style blended drama with cultural stories.
The drawing depicts Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu, portrayed as a dwarf who confronts King Bali. In the scene, Bali agrees to grant Vamana as much land as he can traverse in three steps, whereupon the avatar expands in size and claims the earth with his first step and the heavens with his second, ultimately placing his third step upon Bali’s head. Part of a series of 100 drawings of Hindu deities produced in South India in 1825, the work illustrates a key episode from Hindu mythology.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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