Who painted Devi, Shiva and Ganesha?

Devi, Shiva and Ganesha was painted by Unknown in 1890.

Where can I see Devi, Shiva and Ganesha?

Devi, Shiva and Ganesha is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Devi, Shiva and Ganesha?

Devi, Shiva and Ganesha is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Devi, Shiva and Ganesha

Unknown , 1890

Devi, Shiva and Ganesha is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Created in 1890, this work combines watercolour with tin alloy applied to cardboard.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1890, this work combines watercolour with tin alloy applied to cardboard. The composition presents three figures: a goddess identified as Durga engaged in a dispute with a woman, and the deity Shiva who is shown carrying the infant Ganesha. The scene is rendered with vivid hues and a clear sense of spatial depth.

Subject & Meaning

The central narrative draws on Hindu mythology, portraying Durga in a moment of confrontation, a theme that underscores her protective and fierce aspects. Shiva’s act of bearing Ganesha emphasizes paternal devotion and the continuity of divine lineage, while the presence of the woman adds a human element to the divine tableau.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a hybrid of Impressionistic colour handling and Realist attention to detail, using bright pigments to delineate clothing and skin tones. Chiaroscuro modelling creates a three‑dimensional effect, while subtle sfumato‑like transitions soften edges, giving the figures a gentle atmospheric presence despite the flat cardboard support.

History & Provenance

The painting originates from the late nineteenth‑century Indian art market, a period when hybrid media such as watercolour mixed with metal alloys were common for devotional works. Its exact ownership trail is undocumented, but it reflects the broader trend of integrating Western painting techniques with traditional Indian iconography during that era.