MAG Collection - The God Shiva, His Consort Parvati, and a Musician

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The God Shiva, His Consort Parvati, and a Musician

ca. 1800-1850
Rajput School (1500-1899)
7 1/2 x 10 5/8 in. (19.1 x 27 cm)

Indian artist
India

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Object Type: Painting

Medium and Support: Opaque watercolor, ink, gold and silver paint on paper

Credit Line: Gift of Helen H. Reiff in memory of Robert F. Reiff

Accession Number: 1983.52

Link to this object

Location: Not currently on view

Shiva as the divine ascetic and the embodiment of the creative-destructive force can be identified by many attributes, each having symbolic value. He wears a tiger/leopard skin wrap (he has conquered pride), snakes coil around his hair, neck, and arms (cosmic energy, regeneration), he holds an axe (destruction) and a deer (regeneration, control of man's unsteady mind). His matted hair contains the crescent moon (time), from the top of his head flows the river Ganga (fertility), and he has a third eye in the center of his forehead (wisdom).

Shiva's consort or female half, Parvati, shown in quite elaborate dress, sits next to him as a musician entertains them. The white bull in the lower corner is Nandi, Shiva's vahana or vehicle, who, in India, is often worshiped in Shiva's place.

Provenance

Arun K. Bharany, Paris, France; purchased by Robert F. Reiff, Middlebury, Vermont, 1972; bequeathed to Helen H. Reiff, Middlebury, Vermont; given to the Gallery in 1983

Keywords Click a term to view the records with the same keyword

Indian

musicians

Parvati
wife of Shiva

Shiva
husband of Parvati

1800-1900

paintings

cows

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