Artwork
Manasa, The Snake Goddess
Manasa, The Snake Goddess is an unspecified painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The canvas depicts a female figure clad in a deep red garment, poised atop a large serpentine form.
About this work
Overview
The canvas depicts a female figure clad in a deep red garment, poised atop a large serpentine form. She is adorned with a head covering and gleaming ornaments, while several smaller snakes coil around her arms. The serpents are rendered in dark gray tones punctuated with white spots, creating a striking contrast with the vivid dress.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the woman as a possible embodiment of a snake deity, suggested by her elevated position on the principal serpent and the surrounding smaller snakes. The juxtaposition of regal attire and reptilian companions hints at themes of power, protection, and the intertwining of human and animal realms.
Technique & Style
The work employs a blend of brushwork that recalls both Impressionist light handling and Realist attention to detail. The palette balances the saturated red of the dress with muted grays of the snakes, while the reflective quality of the jewelry is achieved through careful highlights, giving the scene a tactile immediacy.
History & Provenance
No specific information on the painting’s creation date, artist, or ownership history is provided. Consequently, its provenance remains undocumented within the available data.
Context
The depiction of a woman associated with snakes aligns with mythological traditions that feature serpent goddesses, such as those found in various cultural narratives. The visual language of the piece situates it within a broader artistic interest in mythic subjects rendered through modern stylistic approaches.
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
