Axial Commons Image Treasury
Dark carved wooden sculpture of a fierce lion-like face above a pierced backplate, with detached arms and torso with worn gilding on a dark background.

Narasimha, Vishnu's Man-Lion Avatar

A carved wooden figure of a fierce face with bulging eyes and a wide snarling mouth, set in a pierced openwork backplate with floral and scrolling patterns. Detached arms, shoulders and a torso in dark, worn paint with traces of gilding surround the head against a dark background.

Artist
Unknown
Date
ca. 1700–1750
Medium
Wood with cloth and polychrome
Source
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Size
2910 × 3880 px
Download full size
Public domain · The Metropolitan Museum of Art releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1760).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (The Met Open Access, isPublicDomain=true)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, The Vincent Astor Foundation Gift and The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation Fund, 2015

Gods and Epics of India18th centuryvishnupolychromewood sculpturenarasimhatamil naduhindu deity

More from Gods and Epics of India

Buddha Dipankara (Randengfo)Buddha Dipankara (Randengfo)Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara of the Lion's Roar, or Simhanada Avalokiteshvara (Shi Hou Guanyin)Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara of the Lion's Roar, or Simhanada Avalokiteshvara (Shi Hou GuanStanding BuddhaStanding BuddhaIn a chamber containing stuffed animals, a globe and astrological devices Hudibras, about to draw his sword, startles Sidrophel and Whacum. Engraving by William Hogarth.In a chamber containing stuffed animals, a globe and astrological devices Hudibras, about Head of Bodhisattva in high relief, with high headdress containing Amida figureHead of Bodhisattva in high relief, with high headdress containing Amida figureDe Kleine PassieDe Kleine Passie