Cambodia, Kingdom Of Chanla, Pre-angkor Period, 7th-8th Century, Stone Head Of Vishnu

Stone head of Vishnu on a stand

Cambodia, Pre-Angkorian period
Ancient Kingdom of Chanla
Province of Kampong Thom, Site of Prasat Andet
7th-8th century

The face of the divinity with its hieratic expression is inscribed in a perfect oval, the eyebrows delimited by a double incision in the shape of a circumflex accent surmounting two large open almond-shaped eyes. A wide and flattened nose, prominent cheekbones as well as a mouth with thick lips sketching a slight smile thus prefiguring a very sensitive and soft realistic modeling that we will find in later Khmer art. The ears with distended lobes, the top of the skull topped with a high tiara delimited by a fine border, the upper left part presenting the remains of a supporting arch, then connecting the arms to the head, on which the attributes of the god were placed.

Prasat Andet is a major site from the pre-Angkorian period dedicated to the cult of Vishnu. It is one of the sites already showing a transition between Gupta styles and the more distinct Khmer characteristics that would mark the Angkor period. The associated cult of Vishnu was essential in the legitimization of royal power, the deity being venerated as the tutelary god of kings in connection with the ideology of the devaraja or god-king and associated with cosmic order and the protection of the kingdom.

Grey stone
Visible wear and losses
14.7 x 7.3 cm including stand
European private collection

For a head of Vishnu from the same period, see the link below for the Art Curial sale of June 11, 2025:
https://www.artcurial.com/ventes/6213/lots/233-a

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