Open full image Pin

Varuna, god of the water and the ocean and guardian of the west, riding on a makara (mythological water creature).

Unknown

1820

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Varuna, god of the water and the ocean and guardian of the west, riding on a makara (mythological water creature). 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

A man sits on a giant, scaly beast that looks like a mix of a crocodile and a fish. His clothes are bright—yellow and red with gold patterns—and he wears a tall, jewel-encrusted hat. The beast’s tail curves upward, decorated with stripes and swirls, while its front legs grip a saddle. The whole scene feels like a storybook illustration, with bold colors and sharp lines. This painting comes from a time when artists loved mixing real and imaginary worlds. The text at the bottom hints it’s about a water god riding a mythical creature. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The artwork depicts Varuna, the Vedic god of water, the ocean, and guardian of the west, riding a makara, a mythological water creature. He is shown with two arms, wearing royal garments and having a brick-colored complexion.

Read the full account in the museum source.