Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Vishnu
Not on view
This spectacular icon was excavated from a man-made mound upon which substantial sanctuaries devoted to the cult of Vishnu were built, undoubtedly under elite patronage. The sanctuaries were made of fired brick, with sandstone and granite moldings, doorjambs, columns, pillar bases, and altar platforms. Excavations have revealed that both stone and wood images were employed in worship, and there is evidence of the use of temple jewelry for dressing the icons. The Dong Thap Vishnu represents an important moment in the progression from frame-supported icons to fully freestanding representations.
cat. no. 59
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