Page 131 - March 23 2022 Boinghams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art

THE PROPERTY OF AN EAST COAST COLLECTOR
459
A BRONZE FIGURE OF SHIVA
SOUTH INDIA, TAMIL NADU, VIJAYANAGARA OR NAYAKA PERIOD,
17TH CENTURY
17¿ in. (44.5 cm.) high
$12,000-18,000
PROVENANCE:
The Art Company, Washington, D.C., 13 September 1976.
This powerfully-cast bronze statue depicts Shiva in a meditative pose. One of
his hands faces upwards, forming the abhayamadra, the gesture of protection
and reassurance. The other hand, facing downwards, forms the varadamudra,
the gesture of wish-granting. Shiva is framed by two key symbols, his battle-
axe and the antelope, representing his dominion over the natural world.
Despite the fact that he is an ascetic, Shiva is, in the present work, depicted
like a prince, with long, drooping earlobes suggesting the presence of heavy
earrings. His body is lavishly decorated with armbands and jewelry, further
cementing his royal authority.

The present bronze dates to the late Vijayanagara or early Nayaka, a period of
prolific artistic output. The Vijayanagara style was greatly influenced by the
preceding Chola Dynasty, famed for its extravagant temples and naturalistic,
vibrant bronzes. While later Vijayanagara bronzes are similar to those of the
Chola Period, the Vijayanagara figures are more stylized and less realistic.
Vijayanagara bronzes are known for their sharp delineations between sections
of the body, evinced here by the dramatically narrow waist separating the
chest and abdomen. Additionally, the large, wide eyes and sharp, narrow nose
are also typical of a bronze of this period.

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