AN IMPORTANT AND RARE STATUE OF VISHNU, RAJASTHAN, 15TH-16TH CENTURY The black openwork stele is carved in deep relief with Vishnu standing, his four arms radiating around his body and holding specific attributes, wearing dhoti, jewels and high headdress, his face with almond-shaped eyes. Lakshmi is standing to his lower left and right, flanked by a pair of worshippers, all in front of an incised aureole. Provenance: A private collection, Holland. A Hungarian private collector, acquired from the above. Condition: Losses, wear and fine patina, all generally as expected from a statue of this age. The top aureole with smaller repaired cracks. The eyes show old fillings. Weight: 24 kg Dimensions: 75 cm (without the base) and 80 cm (with the base) Compare the present statue with the design of Maschinenmensch (German for "robot" or literally "machine-person") in Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis, played by German actress Brigitte Helm in both its robot form and human incarnation. Named "Maria" in the film, and "Futura" in Thea von Harbou's original novel, she was one of the first robots ever depicted in cinema. Walter Schulze-Mittendorff (1893-1976), the German sculptor and legendary creator of "Maria", later admitted to having used ancient sculptures and their distinct design compositions and structures as prototypes for his unique and visionary design of Maschinenmensch. With an associated wood base. (2)