Artwork
Ganga
Ganga is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Ganga is a painting from 1885, executed in opaque watercolour on paper. It portrays the river goddess Ganga in a symbolic pose, blending traditional Indian motifs with distinctive artistic elements.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Ganga seated on a lotus flower and a fish, identified by her attire (an orange sari, multiple bracelets) and divine attributes (halo, blue rays). She holds a red and a white object, emphasizing her religious significance.
Technique & Style
The work embodies the Kalighat painting tradition of 19th-century Bengal, marked by vivid colours, simplified forms, and expressive brushwork. While often associated with this tradition, its bold color palette and composition also show parallels with broader contemporary artistic movements.
History & Provenance
Acquired by the collection in 1894 from Miss M Steele, the painting was part of an inheritance from her mother, a Cambridge Sanskrit scholar with Indian connections, reflecting the cultural exchanges of the time.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
