drawing
- Museum number
- 2005,0112,0.1
- Description
-
Ink and wash drawing on European paper of the family of Śiva carried in procession. Gaṇeśa (the smallest image), Subrahmanya with his consorts Valli and Devasena, and Śiva and Pārvatī (the largest group) are carried on a single palanquin by four groups of men. All the murtis (images) are propped up against bolsters: Gaṇeśa, and Subrahmanya with Valli and Devasena, are all standing, while Śiva and Pārvatī are seated on a throne with their shoulders resting against a bolster. The three groups are surrounded by prabhavalis (ornamental arch) surmounted by chhattras (parasols) with fringes of pearls. Gaṇeśa carries in his upper right hand the ankusha (elephant goad) and in his upper left the pasha (noose); his lower right is, possibly, the broken tusk, and the bowl of sweets is in his lower left. Subrahmanya, carries the tanka (? chisel) and the vajra (thunderbolts) in his upper hands while his lower hands are in abhaya and varada mudra. In Śiva’s upper right hand is the leaping mriga (gazelle), and in his left is the damaru (hourglass shaped drum), with a snake wound around its middle; his lower hands are in abhaya and varada mudra. The palanquin is led by a flag bearer, and flanked and followed by torchbearers. Among the crowd around the holy images are men carrying fly whisks, fans and mirrors. Brass ritual vessels are placed at Śiva’s feet, and near the image, a pujari (priest who performs the puja) carries a ghanta (bell) and a vessel.
- Production date
- 1820-1830 (circa)
- Dimensions
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Length: 34.70 centimetres
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Width: 19.90 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Dallapiccola 2010:
This painting is from a set of twelve drawings (1990,1029,0.1–7 and 2005,0112,0.1–5) executed in ink and wash on European paper backed on to a page of Persian text. They are originally part of a larger series depicting festivals and ceremonies in the two great sacred complexes sited on Srirangam island: the Shri Ranganatha temple and the Shri Jambukeshvara temple. At some point the set has been split up and the drawings have entered the museum on two separate occasions, in 1990 and 2005. The set focuses on both Vaishnava and Saivite celebrations. This series of drawings reveals the artist’s mastery of the medium and keen eye for detail. With a few strokes of the pen, he was able to evoke the bustle and excitement of a procession, a temple visit or ceremony. The immediacy and liveliness of the figures are unparalleled.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2008 Nov 11-2009 Mar 1, Museum Rietberg, Zurich, 'Shiva Nataraja: The Lord of Dance'
2022 16 Feb – 29 May, Seville, Caixa Forum, “Human Image”
2022 28 Jun - 9 Oct, Zaragoza, Caixa Forum, “Human Image”
2021 - 2022 27 Apr – 16 Jan, Madrid, Caixa Forum, “Human Image” STORAGE
2023 4 July - 22 Oct, Barcelona, Caixa Forum, “Human Image” STORAGE
- Condition
- good
- Acquisition date
- 2005
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 2005,0112,0.1