A REVERSE GLASS PAINTING OF VISHNU'S AVATARA VARAHA DEFEATING HIRANYAKSHA
Possibly Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India, mid to late 19th century

Opaque pigments, gold and silver foil on glass, the vertical composition depicting the third Dashavatara of the Hindu God Vishnu, Varaha the Boar, holding his typical attributes in three hands (the club, the Vedas, and the rosary) and pulling the demon Hiranyaksha's hair, both figures elegantly dressed and bejewelled, the patterns on Varaha's pantaloons and the face of the demon showing influences from Chinese fashion and physiognomy, framed, 58cm x 43cm including the frame.

Provenance: Woolley and Wallis, 21 May 2015, part of lot 499.