id:			162474
accession number:	2003.131
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.131
updated:		2023-08-23 23:57:55.098000

Shiva Bearing Aloft the Body of His Sati, c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper; secondary support: 48 x 29.1 cm (18 7/8 x 11 7/16 in.); painting only: 45.6 x 27.8 cm (17 15/16 x 10 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.131

title:				Shiva Bearing Aloft the Body of His Sati
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1890
creation date earliest:		1875
creation date latest:		1905
current location:		
creditline:			Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward
copyright:			

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culture:	Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat
technique:	Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper
department:	Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection:	Indian Art
type:		Painting
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Secondary Support: 48 x 29.1 cm (18 7/8 x 11 7/16 in.); Painting only: 45.6 x 27.8 cm (17 15/16 x 10 15/16 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Indian Kalighat Paintings
	opening date:   2011-05-01T00:00:00
	<i>Indian Kalighat Paintings</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	William E. Ward [1922-2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
	date: ?-2003
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
	date: 2003-
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact:


digital description:


wall description:
This unusual image portrays Shiva holding aloft the corpse of his wife Sati with his trident. Sati immolated herself because of the hostility directed toward her husband Shiva by her father Daksha. The shadowy figure with blood emerging from the nose and heart is reminiscent of images of death (<em>mrtu pat</em>) found among the magic painter-minstrels (<em>jada patua</em>) of the Santal tribals of Bihar. The shadow is missing its right hand. In this connection, Shiva carried his wife until Vishnu cut the body into pieces that fell onto the earth and were made into shrines. The provocative title given to the piece when it was acquired was <em>Shiva Bearing Aloft the Body of His Spouse Who Has Died in Childbirth</em>. There is, however, no evidence of a myth concerning this theme, thus making this piece even more unusual.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.131/2003.131_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.131/2003.131_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.131/2003.131_full.tif