Indian Sculpture c8.173

c8.173

The recess of the relief is framed by a rock-cut pilaster and other architectonic devices, etc.; it appears covered in this photograph, in its upper right part, by a projection from the ceiling of the cave. The heavy club, with the help of which Viṣṇu balances his stride, acts compositionally as link between the carved pilaster on the left (only its edge to be seen) and the enormous right leg which supports him. The plastic composition is not confined to the actual relief, but it comprises the entire walls of the cave (the śārdula device in the upper left), it comprises also seemingly conflicting treatments. Firstly, the heaviness and utmost generalisation of body and limbs of Viṣṇu and the rather detailed and accurate elaboration of his apparel (kirīṭa mukuṭa, with cloth folded fan-like, the club, the girdle, etc.), and, secondly, the heaviness and generalisation of the figure of Viṣṇu and the relatively free roundness of outline and modelling in the accompanying figures, of which the main figure, in action as well as presence, takes no notice. The graded relief, without any demarcation of planes, is given the fullest effect in this composition.