Ten Avatars of Vishnu
Rajasthan School
1800 (circa)

Gouache painting on paper. Viṣṇu in the form of Matsya, the first avatar of the god. The Vedas, ancient Indian texts, were once stolen by the demon Hayagriva while Brahma slept. Matsya restored the Vedas by diving into the ocean, where a battle ensued. Brahma, Hayagriva and Matsya are all pictured here. Viṣṇu, Brahma and Śiva also appear in faint line-drawings in the coloured sky.

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