Immediately identifiable by his blue skin and elaborate princely garb, the subject of our antique Indian miniature is Vishnu, one of the three primary Hindu deities. The artist of this hand-painted, jewel-like watercolor framed and backed in sterling silver has set the god of light, truth and limitless power in a serene garden. He holds a lotus in one hand and with the other embraces his primary wife, Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and good fortune. Vishnu is known as Hinduism’s gentle god whose many human and animal avatars protect the earth from a multitude of dangers. His primary human form is traditionally portrayed in royal attire; our Vishnu is embellished with small rubies and granular gold spheres. The heads of both gods are set against painted golden aurae. The lovely miniature was made to be venerated and worn as an ornament. It can be suspended from a silk cord through the twin sterling bale or rested on a small easel. Condition: Excellent with some of the gold spheres dislodged but present. Dimensions: 2.25" diam.