Kalki and his Winged Horse

Place of OriginIndia, Bilaspur

Dateabout 1700-1720

Dimensions21.5 x 15.3 cm (dealer)

MediumOpaque watercolor heightened with gold and silver on paper

ClassificationDrawings

Credit LinePurchased with funds given in memory of Kurt T. Luckner

Object number

2010.54

Not on View

DescriptionAn Indian illustrated page of opaque watercolor with gold and silver on paper. A page from a dispersed album from the Mandi royal collection with a Ragamala series and illustrations of the avatars of Vishnu and other deities. An Indian illustrated page of opaque watercolor with gold and silver on paper. A page from a dispersed album from the Mandi royal collection with a Ragamala series and illustrations of the avatars of Vishnu and other deities.

Label TextThe Hindu god Vishnu is often depicted in the form of avatars—manifestations that the deity takes on when acting as a savior of the earth or of a particular devotee. This painting shows Kalki, the last of Vishnu’s ten avatars. Kalki will come with his sword drawn and riding a great white winged horse at the end of the Kali Yuga, the fourth and final age of the present cycle of creation, to destroy the wicked, renovate creation, and restore purity. (See also the sculpture of another Vishnu avatar, Narasimha, in this gallery.)Published Referencesc.f. Three Ragamala paintings in the Edwin Binney, 3rd Collection, dating to circa 1680-1690, are published in W. G. Archer, Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills, 1973, vol. I, p. 231, Kahlur (Bilaspur) 8(i-iii); vol. II, p. 172, pls. 8(i-iii).