Shiva Panchanana
Painting
ca. 1830 (made)
ca. 1830 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Painting, opaque watercolour on paper, Shiva is depicted as Panchanana - the 'Five Faced'. In this incarnation he controls the five directions and the five senses. He is depicted in the mountain god form, with loose hair, and wearing a loin cloth of animal skin. In addition, he has five faces, each facing a different direction, with one face on top of his head looking upwards. Encircling his chest is painted a garland of snakes. He is seated cross-legged on a large low stool. The main colours used are yellow, grey and blue. Personal adornments of necklaces, hair and ear ornaments are painted in tin alloy.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Shiva Panchanana (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil line drawing painted over in watercolour on mill made paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Shiva Panchanana, opaque watercolour on paper, Kalighat, Kolkata, ca. 1830 |
| Physical description | Painting, opaque watercolour on paper, Shiva is depicted as Panchanana - the 'Five Faced'. In this incarnation he controls the five directions and the five senses. He is depicted in the mountain god form, with loose hair, and wearing a loin cloth of animal skin. In addition, he has five faces, each facing a different direction, with one face on top of his head looking upwards. Encircling his chest is painted a garland of snakes. He is seated cross-legged on a large low stool. The main colours used are yellow, grey and blue. Personal adornments of necklaces, hair and ear ornaments are painted in tin alloy. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Shiva is depicted as Panchanana - the 'Five Faced'. In this incarnation he controls the five directions and the five senses. He is depicted in the mountain god form, with loose hair, and wearing a loin cloth of animal skin. In addition, he has five faces, each facing a different direction, with one face on top of his head looking upwards. Encircling his chest is painted a garland of snakes. He is seated cross-legged on a large low stool. The main colours used are yellow, grey and blue. Personal adornments of necklaces, hair and ear ornaments are painted in tin alloy. |
| Style | |
| Production | The dating follows W.G Archer's 1971 catalogue of the V&A's collection of Kalighat paintings. Calcutta is referred to in the 21st century as Kolkata. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Archer, W.G., Kalighat Paintings, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1971, P44, 45 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.201-1950 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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