Varaha
1825
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1825
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Varaha is a 1825 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a blue-skinned figure with a boar’s head, wearing a tall, jewel-encrusted crown. The body is painted in bright yellow and red, with ornate patterns and heavy gold trim. It holds two objects—one looks like a wheel, the other a small drum—and wears long, flaring sleeves with green and pink details. The figure stands in a dynamic pose, as if ready to move. The writing below hints at a story about facing a challenge. The colors are bold and the lines are sharp, making the figure stand out against the plain background. Look up Romanticism to see how this style used drama and fantasy in art.
The image depicts Varaha, the boar-headed third incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu, who is shown slaying the demon Hiranyaksha to rescue the earth goddess Bhumi from captivity. It is one of a series of 100 drawings of Hindu deities produced in South India in 1825.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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