Vishnu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Pallavas, centered at their imperial capital of Kanchipuram, were the most powerful clan to rule southern India from the third century until their defeat by the Cholas in 897. This image of Vishnu displaying the symbols of his authority as a divine monarch likely belongs to their last phase of stability, during the reigns of the kings Dantivarman and Nandivarman. Notably, icons of this scale mark the beginnings of the tradition of processional icons in south Indian worship.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art