Page 63 - 2021 April 1, ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs, Christie's London

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MATSYAVATARA INCARNATION OF VISHNU
CHAMBA OR BASOHLI, PUNJAB HILLS, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1710
Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, within black rules and red margins, the reverse plain
Painting 6¿ x 9¬in. (15.5 x 24.5cm.); folio 7¡ x 11in. (18.8 x 27.9 cm)
£20,000-30,000 US$28,000-42,000
€24,000-35,000
Vishnu is often depicted in art as one of the dasavataras (the ‘ten descents’) he assumes to provide
cosmic order. Most of these depictions show some form of violence, commonly portraying Vishnu
vanquishing a demon.
The demon shown in this painting is Ajnana, also known as Hayagriva. After stealing all of the
knowledge of the Vedas from Lord Brahma, Ajnana goes into hiding deep within the ocean. In this
painting, Vishnu is shown emerging magnificent from the depths of the ocean. He assumes the form of
Matsya, the first incarnation of Vishnu, to defeat the demon and recover the Vedic knowledge.

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