Shiva Holding a Trident

Shiva Holding a Trident

late 500s
Shiva Holding a Trident. late 500s. stone. Funds from Ruth Luby,Dorothy Hietler,Fay Carter & Norman Degan in loving memory of their parents,Nellie & Jesse Shwayder,& acquisition challenge fund.. 1982.15.
This object is currently on view
God Shiva India, Southern Rajasthan late 500s, Gupta period Stone Museum purchase with funds from Ruth Luby, Dorothy Heitler, Fay Shwayder, and Norma Degen in memory of their parents Nellie and Jesse Shwayder, and from Acquisition Challenge Grant Funds 1982.15 This fragmentary image of a four-armed Shiva has the idealized form developed by Gupta-period sculptors to portray sacred figures. His youthful appearance is an expression of his physical and spiritual beauty. There is little attempt to represent musculature. Instead, the smooth modeling captures the force of the god’s inwardly held breath (prana), the essence of life.
Locale
Rajasthan Province southern
Country
India
Object
sculpture
Medium
stone
Dimensions
height: 18.75 in, 47.6250 cm
Credit Line
Funds from Ruth Luby,Dorothy Hietler,Fay Carter & Norman Degan in loving memory of their parents,Nellie & Jesse Shwayder,& acquisition challenge fund.
Department
Arts of Asia
Collection
Arts of Asia
Accession Number
1982.15
Known Provenance
Collection of Josef Remigius Belmont [1896-1981], Basel, Switzerland, by 1966 [1]. Christian Humann [1929-1981], Pan-Asian Collection, New York, by 1967; by descent, Christian Humann heirs, 1981; purchase, (Robert H. Ellsworth [1925-2014]), New York, by 1981; purchase, Denver Art Museum, 1982. [1] published in Indische Kunst, 1966, cat. no. 54. J.R. Belmont named as owner.

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