Uma-Maheshvara (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
At the center of this bronze altarpiece is the Hindu god Shiva (Maheshvara), seated on a lotus along with his wife (Uma). She is perched elegantly on his left thigh, the position of her legs mirroring his. Four-armed, the god holds his trident and a citron fruit in his right hands. One of his right arms reaches around Uma's waist, while the delicately cast fingers of the other hold a ring. Surrounded by an ornate foliate arch springing from columns, the divine couple is flanked by their two sons: Karttikeya astride his peacock mount and the elephant-headed Ganesha. Shiva's bull mount Nandi completes the figural grouping.
Funds provided by the Estate of Robert Busick and the Kathleen Boone Samuels Memorial Fund
“The Sensuous Immortals: A Selection of Sculptures from the Pan-Asian Collection,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California (25 Oct. 1977 – 15 Jan. 1978); Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington (9 March – 23 April 1978); Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colo. (26 May – 30 July 1978);
William Rockhill Nelson Gallery, Kansas City, Mo. (15 Sept. – 29 Oct. 1978).
William Rockhill Nelson Gallery, Kansas City, Mo. (15 Sept. – 29 Oct. 1978).
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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