This finely rendered early Nepalese figure of Vasudeva-Kamalaja depicts a composite image of Vishnu (on the proper right) and Lakshmi (on the proper left). Examples of this iconographic composite are rare and were technically challenging to produce, as they required the artist to capture two deities in one cohesive form. In addition to identifying their standard attributes, sophisticated casting techniques gave form to each deity’s unique traits – such as the longer dhoti or the slightly longer hair beneath the crown on Lakshmi’s side, in this example – further distinguishing one deity from the other.
The sculpture exemplifies the bold, yet elegant, corporeal sensibility of early Malla (1220–1769 CE) works, which was achieved by contrasting the powerful frontal stance with the soft rendering of a substantial, yet languid, physique. The elegantly rendered features, combined with the masterful illusion of a supple surface, make the present example a classic illustration of Newari craftsmanship.
Compared with the Vishnu from the Heeramaneck Collection,1 whose proportions are like those of the present example, the treatment of the details – such as the simple armlets, earrings and flower pattern on the dhoti, found in both figures – also points to the early Malla period. This work can be further compared with a closely related figure of Vasudeva-Kamalaja, which was recently acquired by the Yale University Art Gallery (2017.54.17).
