Artwork

Shiva Panchanana

Shiva Panchanana, by Unknown, paint, 1830
Shiva Panchanana, by Unknown, paint, 1830

Shiva Panchanana is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to look into the Romanticism movement.

This painting shows a deity with five faces, each looking in a different direction. The figure has four arms, with one hand holding a trident and another holding a drum. The deity sits cross-legged on a yellow throne, with a snake wrapped around its neck.

The deity's body is painted in shades of gray, with yellow and blue accents. The background of the painting is a light beige color. The overall style of the painting is reminiscent of Indian art from the early 19th century.

If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to look into the Romanticism movement.

Overview

Shiva Panchanana is an opaque watercolour painting on paper, created in 1830. It depicts the five-faced form of Shiva, associated with the governance of the five directions and senses.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows Shiva seated cross-legged on a stool, adorned with an animal-skin loincloth, matted hair, and a serpent garland. His five faces are oriented in different directions, symbolizing omnidirectional awareness.

Technique & Style

Executed primarily in yellow, grey, and blue hues on a light beige background, the work features tin alloy details for ornaments. Its style aligns with early 19th-century Indian artistic traditions.

History & Provenance

Created in 1830, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.

Context

While the painting's style reflects its Indian origins, a broader comparative context might involve the contemporaneous European Romanticism movement, though the work itself is rooted in Indian artistic practices.

Legacy

The painting's impact or influence on subsequent artistic or religious practices is not specified in the provided details.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known