A WHITE MARBLE RELIEF DEPICTING VISHNU, HOYSALA EMPIRESouth India, 10th-14th century. The central deity seated with four arms holding various attributes, adorned with beaded jewelry, the serene face with almond-shaped eyes, gently arched brows, mustache, and long beard, the head surmounted by a tall elaborate crown, the figure flanked by two standing female attendants.Provenance: A noted Belgian private collection, acquired between 1985 and 1990. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, losses, nicks, scratches, chips, signs of weathering and erosion, and encrustations. The marble fragment with remnants of cement, indicating it was once set into a wall. Dimensions: Height 51.5 cm (excl. stand) and 55 cm (incl. stand)Fitted with a modern metal stand. (2)The Hoysala Empire was a Kannadiga power originating from the Indian subcontinent that ruled most of what is now Karnataka, India between the 10th and 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu. The Hoysala rulers were originally from Malenadu, an elevated region in the Western Ghats. In the 12th century, taking advantage of the warfare between the Western Chalukya Empire and Kalachuris of Kalyani, they annexed areas of present-day Karnataka and the fertile areas north of the Kaveri delta in present-day Tamil Nadu. By the 13th century, they governed most of Karnataka, parts of Tamil Nadu, western Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the Deccan Plateau. The Hoysala era was an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. The empire is remembered today primarily for Hoysala architecture. Over a hundred surviving temples are scattered across Karnataka.