The Hindu deity Vishnu

Material and Style: Like most of the sculptures in this gallery, this image was made in the eastern India-Bangladesh region in the period of the Pala and Sena kings (approx. 750–1225). Most such sculptures are of fine-grained dark-gray or black stone that can be, and often is, carved with a multitude of small, sharp details.

Identifying Symbols: Vishnu here holds his usual club, war discus, and conch shell. Immediately next to him are much smaller representations of his wives, and beyond them are even smaller personifications of his conch shell and war discus wearing these objects in their headdresses. At the upper right and left, celestials fly in to offer garlands to Vishnu.