By faith
Hinduism
Hindu gods, avatars and temples as European engravers drew them: the avatars of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and the Trimurti from Sonnerat's Voyage of 1806, Brahma after Picart, the gods of Ferrario's costume atlas, and the temple of Arunachalesvara on the Coromandel Coast.
47 prints
Rites of the World · MDCCXXIII
Antique Engraving of Brahma, the Hindu Creator God, 1723
1723 · 24.5 × 39.5 cm€440
Houses of Worship · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving of Arunachalesvara Temple, Hindu Pagoda on Coromandel Coast
1806 · 39 × 28.5 cm€340
Rites of the World · MDCCCXXXI
Antique Print of Hindu Gods by Ferrario '1831'
1831 · 23.5 × 34 cm€300
Rites of the World · MDCCCXXVII
Traditional Hindu Funeral: Cremation of a Brahmin (1827)
1827 · 43 × 28.7 cm€290
Rites of the World · MDCCCXXVII
Historical Depiction of a Widow's Sacrifice on a Funeral Fire in India, 1827
1827 · 43 × 28.7 cm€290
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Hook-Swinging Ceremony in Honor of Mariamman, Engraving, 1806
1806 · 39 × 28.5 cm€290
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Fire-Walking Ceremony in Honor of Dharma Raja, Engraving, 1806
1806 · 39 × 28.5 cm€290
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Festival Procession with Vishnu Cart, Engraving after Sonnerat, 1806
1806 · 39 × 28.5 cm€270
Rites of the World · MDCCXXVII
Religious Antique Print of The Ten Divine Transformation, 1727
1727 · 42.5 × 24.8 cm€260
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Striking 1806 Ravana Demon King Antique Print, Hindu Ramayana Engraving
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€260
Rites of the World · MDCLXXII
Antique Print of the Hindu God Vishnu Incarnated as Krishna, 1672
1672 · 19.3 × 30 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Shaivite Brahmin Reading Scriptures, Sonnerat Engraving, India, Paris 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Funeral Ceremony, Vaishnavite Rites, Sonnerat Engraving, Paris 1806
1806 · 40 × 28.5 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving: Vishnu's Divine Majesty in Hindu Iconography
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving: Ganesha as Pollear, Wisdom Deity in Hindu Mythology
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Ascetics and Priest, Saniassi, Pandaron, and Carepatré, 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCI
Early Depiction of Sati Ritual, Widow Burning on Pyre, Dutch Engraving c.1601
1601 · 18.2 × 24 cm€240
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Rare 1806 Krishna Vishnu Avatar Antique Print, Hindu Engraving Collectible
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€230
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Unique 1806 Buddha Vishnu Avatar Antique Print, Hindu Engraving Collectible
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€230
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Rare 1806 Engraving: Parasati's Fiery Divinity in Hindu Mythology
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€230
Rites of the World
Ascetic Practices of Brahmins in India: Rituals of Penance & Spiritual Authority
Date not stated · 25.5 × 42 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCXXXIV
Birth and Naming Rituals of the Banians, Rare 1734 Indian Custom Engraving
1734 · 26 × 42 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCXXXIV
Indian Brahmin Penitents and Pilgrim, Rare 18th Century Ritual Engraving, 1734
1734 · 26 × 42 cm€220
Rites of the World
Procession of Ganga and Festival of Huly, Antique 18th Century India Engraving
Date not stated · 26 × 42 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving: Parachiven's Fierce Divinity in Hindu Mythology
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving: Chiven as Ardhanarishvara, Divine Union in Hindu Mythology
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Temple Musicians, Tadin and Chief of the Tadins, 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Sacred Musicians, Satadéven and Vaïche Navin, 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Priestly Assembly, Poutchari of Maarraami, Engraving, 1806
1806 · 39 × 28.5 cm€220
Rites of the World · MDCCCLIII
Antique Print of a Hindu Ritual by D'Urville, '1853'
1853 · 26 × 17 cm€200
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Women Celebrating Pongal Festival, Engraving after Sonnerat, 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€200
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Hindu Couple with Ritual Implements, Poutchari of Darma Raja, 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€200
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Indian Penitent with Ritual Implements, Engraving after Sonnerat, 1806
1806 · 21 × 28.5 cm€200
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Unique 1806 Mudevi Goddess of Discord Antique Print, Hindu Engraving
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€190
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Historic 1806 Varaha Vishnu Boar Avatar Antique Print, Hindu Engraving
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€190
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Striking 1806 Narasimha Vishnu Lion-Man Avatar Antique Print, Hindu Engraving
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€190
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Unique 1806 Vamana Vishnu Dwarf Avatar Antique Print, Hindu Engraving
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€190
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving: Vaivert, Fierce Form of Shiva in Hindu Mythology
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€190
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Rare Engraving of Hindu Deity Virapatrin, Antique Print Published in 1806
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€190
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Exquisite 1806 Shiva and Vishnu Harihara Print, Hindu Art Treasure
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€180
Houses of Worship · MDCCCVI
Original Engraving of Hindu Pagoda on Malabar Coast, Antique Temple Print, 1806
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€170
Rites of the World · MDCCXXIII
Antique 'Proof' Print of of Brahma, the Hindu Creator God, ca.1723
1723 · 17 × 25.5 cm€160
Rites of the World · MDCCXXII
Antique Print of the Hindu God Vishnu by Picart, 1722
1722 · 25 × 39.5 cm€145
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Historic 1806 Shiva and Vishnu Harihara Antique Print, Hindu Deity Engraving
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€140
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
Rare 1806 Trimurti Trinity Antique Print, Hindu Deity Engraving Collectible
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€130
Rites of the World · MDCCCVI
1806 Engraving: Sacred Lingam, Symbol of Shiva in Hindu Worship
1806 · 21.5 × 28.5 cm€130
Rites of the World · MDCCXC
Antique Print of a Pilgrim Carrying Water from the Ganges by Poisson 'c.1790'
1790 · 20.5 × 28.5 cm€100
Hinduism in print
Pierre Sonnerat travelled in India in the 1770s and published his Voyage aux Indes orientales in 1782; the plates of the 1806 edition, drawn from Indian paintings and sculpture, are among the most faithful European images of the Hindu gods: Vishnu's avatars as the boar, the lion-man and the dwarf, Shiva as Ardhanarishvara, Ganesha and the Trimurti.
Earlier, Bernard Picart's Religious Ceremonies of the 1720s showed Brahma and Vishnu to a European public for the first time. The collection also holds temple views, festivals and pilgrims of the Ganges.
Other faiths
Questions
How accurate are European prints of the Hindu gods?
It varies. Picart's plates of the 1720s relied on travellers' reports and earlier engravings; Sonnerat worked from Indian images he had seen, so his iconography of the avatars and attributes is far closer to the original.