id:			157109
accession number:	1993.240
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1993.240
updated:		2021-03-27 12:16:21.036000

Miniature Female Head, 2nd century. India, Mathura, Kushan Period (1st century-320). Sandstone; overall: 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Eleanor Everett in memory of Mr. Morris Everett 1993.240

title:				Miniature Female Head
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			2nd century
creation date earliest:		100
creation date latest:		199
current location:		
creditline:			Gift of Mrs. Eleanor Everett in memory of Mr. Morris Everett
copyright:			

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culture:	India, Mathura, Kushan Period (1st century-320)
technique:	sandstone
department:	Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection:	Indian Art - Kushan, Mathura
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

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fun fact: 


digital description: 


wall description: 
Against the backdrop of the large-scale monumental sculpture for which the Mathura school is justly noted, this miniature head may appear insignificant, however, it exemplifies on a much reduced, diminutive scale qualties of style and execution that not only parallel developments noticeable on monumental sculpture but also reflect a certain freedom of treatment of facial details that clearly denotes that while the artist worked in a minor key, the creation was neither inconsequential nor a sequacious rendering of the major sculptural trends of large-scale sculptures from Mathura.

This small female head is comparable to the yaksi in CMA's 1965.250 in several readily apparent details of form and type. The dual strands of the large-beaded necklace, the oversized ear ornament, and the hairstyle with the lalatika in the circular, severely defined central section of the coiffure are reductive echoes of the larger sculpture that clearly suggest an analogous date for this head.  While repeating some of the features of the yaksi, this small head retains an individuality and distinctness by means of fine, yet perceptible, details such as the indented secondary line defining the upper lip of the slightly parted mouth and the chiseled clarity of the nose and brows of this sloe-eyed image.  The fullness of the facial planes and the sensuous curves of the full, lower lip, while accentuating by contrast the almost-metallic quality of the eye and nose, also quite compellingly link this head with the larger yaksis.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1993.240/1993.240_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1993.240/1993.240_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1993.240/1993.240_full.tif