Image

Dark bronze sculpture of a figure with one leg raised and the other bent, and one arm bent upwards and the other extending across its body, surrounded by a sculpted halo.
Dark bronze sculpture of a figure with one leg raised and the other bent, and one arm bent upwards and the other extending across its body, surrounded by a sculpted halo.
Detail of the left two arms of the sculpture, showing one arm raised upwards and holding a small drum-like device, while the other arm gestures outwards towards the viewer.
Dark bronze sculpture of a figure with one leg raised and the other bent, and one arm bent upwards and another extending across its body, surrounded by a sculpted halo.
Detail of the figure showing one of the figure’s arms gesturing diagonally towards the viewer. The figure’s neck bears rows of necklaces, and the wrist and upper arms feature bands.
Detail of the sculpture showing the rightmost arm extending rightwards, intersecting with the thin halo. The hand holds a small wavy plant.
Detail of the bronze sculpture, showing rows of curving wavy rods with pointed tips extended from behind the figure’s head.
Detail of the bronze sculpture, showing the figure actually has four arms. Two arms extend to its sides and point upwards, while the other to gesture towards the viewer.
Detail of the left two arms of the sculpture, showing one arm raised upwards and holding a small drum-like device, while the other arm gestures outwards towards the viewer.
Detail of the sculpture’s bottom showing the figure’s foot stepping on another figure laying stomach down, head and one hand raised. The bottom figure’s body features sculpted patterning.
Side view of the bronze sculpture, showing the thin sculpted halo surrounding the figure and a truncated base. Two of the figure’s arms gesture outwards.
Detail of the sculpture. The figure is wearing a headdress and has holes in their ears. Rows of curved rods with pointed tips extend to both sides of its head.
Side view of the bronze sculpture, showing the thin sculpted halo surrounding the figure and a truncated base. Two of the figure’s arms gesture outwards.
Back view of a dark bronze sculpture of a figure with one leg raised and the other bent, and one arm bent upwards and the other extending across its body, surrounded by a sculpted halo.
Dark bronze sculpture of a figure with one leg raised and the other bent, and one arm bent upwards and the other extending across its body, surrounded by a sculpted halo.
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Unknown Maker, Indian

Shiva Nataraja, the King of Dance
Now On View

Description

Maker

Unknown Maker, Indian

Culture

Indian

Title

Shiva Nataraja, the King of Dance

Period

Vijayanagar Period

Year

1500s

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

bronze

Geography

Place Made: India; Place Made: Tamil Nadu

Dimensions

Height: 117.5 cm (46 1/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Museum Appropriation Fund

Object Number

33.026

Type

Projects & Publications

Publications

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Indian Art for the RISD Collection
Aug 23, 1985 – Mar 09, 1986

Label copy

Shiva, one of the three main gods of the Hindu pantheon, reveals himself in an extraoridinary array of manifestations. Here he is seen as the King of Dancers performing the dance of cosmic bliss. By means of attributes, gestures, and pose, he symbolizes the five essential acts (pancakrityas) which identify him as the all-encompassing creator, sustainer, destroyer, giver of solace, and dispeller of fear. This sculpture is ample testimony to the extraordinary skills of the South Indian bronze casters who worked in the vast kingdom of Vijayanagar (1336-1546).

Rockefeller Asian Art Gallery

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This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Indian
Shiva Nataraja, the King of Dance, 1500s
Bronze
Height: 117.5 cm (46 1/4 inches)
Museum Appropriation Fund 33.026

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