Artwork preview

Vishnu Rescuing Gajendra, the Lord of the Elephants

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture depicts a scene with multiple figures. A man with curly hair, adorned with a crown-like structure on his head and large circular earrings, sits on a low platform. He wears a beaded necklace and has a beaded belt around his waist. His right leg is bent, resting on the platform, while his left leg is bent, with his foot on the ground. He holds an object in his right hand and extends his left hand toward an elephant. The elephant, positioned to the right, has its trunk curled and appears to be pulling a person. A smaller figure is at the elephant's feet. In the background, another figure appears to be emerging or is part of the sculpture's design. The entire scene is carved from dark gray stone.

Artwork Details

Date
8th–9th century
Medium
Stone
Culture
India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir)
Dimensions
510 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette