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Vishnu

About 675-700

India, Bihar, Apsadh

Stone

H. 35 1/2 x W. 12 x D. 6 in. (90 x 30.5 x 15.2 cm)

Asia Society, New York: Gift from The Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, 1994.1

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Although this sculpture's hands, which would have held identifying attributes, are missing, the image can be identified as Vishnu because of his tall crown and the treatment of his hair, which is neatly coiffed in ringlets rather than the matted hair typical of depictions of Shiva. This sculpture has generally been attributed to the city of Apsadh in Bihar province, because of the similarities between the body of this Vishnu and those of other sculptures that are attributed to this area. These images are often associated with the rule of a King Adityasena, who was a member of the Later Gupta dynasty that ruled parts of north and northeastern India in the third quarter of the 7th century. The association of Vishnu and stylistically similar works with Apsadh is based on the discovery of an inscription there that records Adityasena's building of a temple dedicated to Vishnu. It is not certain whether or not this particular statue of Vishnu was originally housed in the temple built by Adityasena; however, given the king's interest in Vishnu and the quality of this sculpture, it seems likely that this statue may once have been prominently displayed in either this temple or somewhere else in the city.