Artwork preview

Standing Four-Armed Vishnu

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture depicts a four-armed figure identified as Vishnu. The figure has a reddish-brown color and appears to be made of stone or clay. The figure is adorned with a crown on its head and a halo behind it. The figure has long hair and wears a necklace. The figure has four arms. The right arms hold a conch shell and a wheel. The left arms are bent at the elbow with the hands resting on the hips. The figure wears a dhoti, which is a traditional garment in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. The figure stands barefoot on a rectangular base. The background of the image transitions from black at the top to gray and then white at the bottom.

Artwork details

Date:
5th century
Medium:
Terracotta
Culture:
India (Uttar Pradesh)
Dimensions:
468 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette