Artwork
Vishnu in Female Form of Mohini Carrying Amrita for the Gods
Vishnu in Female Form of Mohini Carrying Amrita for the Gods is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting depicts Vishnu in his Mohini avatar, a female form, carrying the elixir of immortality, Amrita.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Hindu deity Vishnu manifested in his female avatar, Mohini, carrying the Amrita, or nectar of immortality, for the benefit of the gods.
The painting depicts the Hindu deity Vishnu manifested in his female avatar, Mohini, carrying the Amrita, or nectar of immortality, for the benefit of the gods. This subject illustrates the specific mythological episode where Vishnu assumes a feminine form to distribute the elixir to the deities. The iconography centers on the figure of Mohini as the vessel for this divine substance, representing the preservation of cosmic order through the intervention of the gods.
Created in Kolkata in 1890, the work visualizes this transformative moment from Hindu tradition, emphasizing the deity's role in sustaining the divine realm through the distribution of immortality.
Technique & Style
The work titled Vishnu in Female Form of Mohini Carrying Amrita for the Gods is classified as a painting and was produced in 1890 in Kolkata. As a painting, it uses the conventional medium of pigment applied to a support, consistent with artistic practice of the period. The piece belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, accession number 2003.122.
Documentation does not specify the exact support material, handling history, present condition, or detailed formal and stylistic qualities beyond its identification as a painting.
History & Provenance
The work titled Vishnu in Female Form of Mohini Carrying Amrita for the Gods was painted in 1890 in Kolkata. It is attributed to an unknown artist and classified as a painting. The piece entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
Its creation history reflects a commissioning context typical of late nineteenth‑century Indian artistic circles, though specific patronage details are not recorded. The museum’s catalog notes the work’s inception on 1890‑01‑01 and identifies it as depicting the deity Vishnu in the guise of Mohini, the female avatar who distributes the elixir of immortality.
Overview
This painting depicts Vishnu in his Mohini avatar, a female form, carrying the elixir of immortality, Amrita. The figure is shown with dark skin, adorned in a vibrant red sari, and holds a yellow pot. Her confident stance against a light blue background highlights the bold colors and simple lines characteristic of the artwork, presenting a striking and engaging portrayal of this mythological episode.
Artist & collection
