Kartikeya
Culture
Indian
Regionprobably from the area of
Andhra Pradesh
(India)
Date1600s
Creation PlaceAsia
Mediumblack granite relief
Dimensions98.7 x 63.5 x 21.6 cm (38 7/8 x 25 x 8 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Terms
Object number1923.22
DescriptionThe deity, Kartikeya, carved in high relief, sitting on a peacock with a serpent hanging from its beak. This twelve-armed image of Kartikeya carries a blade and a thunderbolt (vajra) in his upper arms. Only a sword hilt can be clearly discerned among the attributes held by the other side arms. Broken front arms were probably in the gestures of assurance and gift-giving. Sharp facial features and stiff treatment of the torso and limbs. Another three-headed image of the deity wearing a different headdress is carved in low relief on the back of the slab. Label TextKartikeya, also known as Skanda, is the Hindu god of war. He is popularly worshipped in south India, and the sharp features of the face and the stiff treatment of the torso and limbs here are typical of late south Indian stone sculpture. This twelve-armed image of Kartikeya carries a blade and a thunderbolt (vajra) in his upper arms.Commonly, sculputres depict Kartikeya in the round with six heads; since this sculpture is not free-standing, it depicts the god with three. The deity is shown seated on his vahana (vehicle), a peacock named Paravani. The bird carries a small serpent in its beak, symbolizing the vanquishing of ego. ProvenanceBourgeois Gallery, New York, NY
On View
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