Medieval · Rijksmuseum · 200106520
Sleeping Vishnu
anonymous, Cambodja, c. 1100 - c. 1300
Rijksmuseum · Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · AK-MAK-224 · Public Domain · Bruikleen van de Koninklijke Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst (aankoop C.J.P. Baronesse van der Feltz-Lotsy, 1951) · Public domain
- Artist
- anonymous, Cambodja
- Date
- c. 1100 - c. 1300
- Medium
- sandstone
- Dimensions
- height 32.8 cm × width 20.2 cm × depth 19.4 cm
- Era
- Medieval
Why it matters
This head originally formed part of a complete figure of Vishnu. The Hindu god would have been represented reclining on his side, resting his head on his hand. The damage behind his right ear marks the place where the hand would have been. According to Hindu belief, creation is cyclical. Before each new creation cycle, Vishnu sleeps and dreams of the coming regeneration.