The Hindu Supreme God Vishnu, depicted as the Cosmic man

This striking painting shows the blue-skinned Hindu god Vishnu in his form as the Universal Man or Vishvarupa, which means ‘all forms’. The small figures painted on his body refer to his role as encompassing all of creation. He has four arms, each holding one of Vishnu’s attributes; a conch shell, a lotus flower, a mace and the circular weapon called Sudarshana chakra (meaning ‘beautiful discus’).

The painting was probably done in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in about 1800-1805.