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Bronze sculpture portraying the Hindu deity Śiva, depicted with four arms in a dynamic dancing posture within a ring of flames.

Śiva as Lord of Dancers (Naṭarāja)

Unknown

Śiva (Shiva) is depicted here performing a cosmic dance that represents the destruction and recreation of the world. The drum that Śiva holds in one of his four hands, for example, symbolizes the sound of creation. The flames that encircle him represent the final destruction of the universe. With another of his hands, Śiva makes the abhaya mudrā, a “fear not” gesture. He stands upon the back of the demon Apasmara Purusha, who represents ignorance. At the base of the sculpture is a lotus flower, from which all life was believed in Hindu tradition to have sprung. This imagery was formulated toward the end of the ninth century and has remained popular ever since. Similar sculptures of various sizes and materials are still made in India today for placement in temples and domestic shrines. This example was purchased by the donor in Pondicherry, India.
Artist
Unknown (Indian)
Title
Śiva as Lord of Dancers (Naṭarāja)
Date
19th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
47 1/4 x 37 9/16 in. Overall
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Webster Woodmansee
Accession No.
1981.151
Classification
Sculpture
Geography
India

Related

Sold by Honesty Engineers and Contractors (Ponducherry, India) to Webster Woodmansee (Milwaukee, WI); 1981, donated to the Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art].

  • "SchoolsMusuemsART (SMART) Project." Madison, WI: Madison Metropolitan School District, 2002. p. 60, slide 18
  • Chazen Museum of Art. "re:mancipation." Madison, WI: Chazen Museum of Art, 2024. pp. 71, 91

  • re:mancipation: Chazen Museum of Art, 2/6/2023–6/25/2023
  • Art of Storytelling: Art of India from Wisconsin Collections, The: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 10/26/1985–1/19/1986

The bronze sculpture portrays the Hindu deity Śiva, depicted with four arms in a dynamic dancing posture within a ring of flames. The bronze surface exhibits a dull brown hue with light green in the incised lines, indicative of age and weathering. Śiva is clad in a close-fitting garment from waist to mid-thigh, large circular earrings, ornate body jewelry adorning his neck, wrists, arms, legs, and feet, and an intricate headpiece. His long, serpentine hair streams outward from either side of his head. A cobra with a flared hood appears to emerge from Śiva''s right side. His upper arms extend gracefully with bent elbows, holding a damaru (hand drum) in his right hand and a flame in his left. His lower left arm crosses his torso towards the right, while his lower right arm is bent with the palm facing the viewer. Śiva''s left leg is raised, crossing over his right leg, which balances on the back of a small figure lying on an oval pedestal. This diminutive figure flails its arms and legs and looks up at Śiva with despair. This multi-tiered pedestal features an incised lotus leaf pattern. The ring of flames rises from the pedestal, encircling Śiva and displaying twenty-nine small, evenly spaced, stylized, pointed flames along its circumference.

The Chazen Museum of Art welcomes comments or inquiries about works in our collection. Please allow two–three weeks for a response. Chazen staff is not able to provide valuations or authentications and such inquiries cannot be answered.

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