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1 drawing : gouache, with gold and oxidised silver

Vishnu in his incarnation of Matsya fighting with a demon. Gouache drawing.

He attacks another warrior with an axe

1 print : engraving ; platemark approximately 29 x 17.5 cm

Vishnu in his incarnation as Parashurama. Engraving, 1672.

The images illustrated on this sheet relate to the incarnations of Vishnu and religious stories. Vishnu has ten recognised avatars, but the Bhagavata Purana which glorifies Vishnu has twenty-two. The ten common ones are: Matsya, the fish, Kūrma, the tortoise, Varāha, the boar, Narasinha, the man-lion, Vāmana, the dwarf, Parasurāma, Rāma with an axe, Rāmachandra, the gentle Rāma, Krishna, the dark coloured, Budha, Kalkī, the white horse. Amongst other images illustrated are Gajendramokṣaṇastotra, an elephant who was caught by a crocodile and prayed to Vishnu for help, the Jagannātha, the Trimūrti, the Hindu triad

1 drawing : gouache, with oxidised silver

The incarnations of Vishnu. Gouache drawing.

Haraṇyakaśipu was the King of the Daityas
Narasiṃha is the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, who disembowelled Haraṇyakśipu for disapproving his son's worship of Vishnu

Narasimha disembowelling Haranyakasipu in front of his son and two female attendants. Chromolithograph.

1 print : engraving ; platemark approximately 29.5 x 17.5 cm

Vishnu in his incarnation as Buddha, the thinker. Engraving, 1672.

He disembowels Hiranyakashipu with his hands

Vishnu in his incarnation as Narasimha, the man-lion. Engraving, 1672.

Narasiṃha is a man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, who disembowelled Hirṇyakaśipu after his persecution of his son Prahlāda for worshipping Vishnu

Narasimha disembowelling Hiranyakasipu in front of his son and attendants. Chromolithograph, 1883.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf. Engraving, 1672.

Varāha is the boar incarnation of Vishnu. According to an old legend of the Brāhmanas concerning a boar who raised the earth from the bottom of the sea which had been dragged there by the demon Hiranyāksha. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and after a contest of a thousand years he eventually slew the demon and raised the earth

Varāha raising the earth from the bottom of the ocean and trampling on the demon Hiranyāksha. Gouache drawing.

The churning of the ocean of milk with the snake Vasuki. Kurma the turtle is shown but not as supporting the mountain, possibly through a misunderstanding of the iconography. In the foreground, kneeling, is Dhanvantarī, the physician of the gods

1 print : engraving ; platemark approximately 29 x 17.7 cm

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Vishnu in his incarnation of Matsya fighting with a demon. Gouache drawing.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Parashurama. Engraving, 1672.

The incarnations of Vishnu. Gouache drawing.

Narasimha disembowelling Haranyakasipu in front of his son and two female attendants. Chromolithograph.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Buddha, the thinker. Engraving, 1672.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Narasimha, the man-lion. Engraving, 1672.

Narasimha disembowelling Hiranyakasipu in front of his son and attendants. Chromolithograph, 1883.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf. Engraving, 1672.

Varāha raising the earth from the bottom of the ocean and trampling on the demon Hiranyāksha. Gouache drawing.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Kurma the turtle. Engraving, 1672.

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Vishnu in his incarnation of Matsya fighting with a demon. Gouache drawing.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Parashurama. Engraving, 1672.

The incarnations of Vishnu. Gouache drawing.

Narasimha disembowelling Haranyakasipu in front of his son and two female attendants. Chromolithograph.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Buddha, the thinker. Engraving, 1672.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Narasimha, the man-lion. Engraving, 1672.

Narasimha disembowelling Hiranyakasipu in front of his son and attendants. Chromolithograph, 1883.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf. Engraving, 1672.

Varāha raising the earth from the bottom of the ocean and trampling on the demon Hiranyāksha. Gouache drawing.

Vishnu in his incarnation as Kurma the turtle. Engraving, 1672.

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