PaintingsIndian20th century

Hindu Goddess Ganga with Two Female Attendants Carrying Fly-Whisks

20th century

Description

Seated with legs folded on a golden throne is the Hindu goddess Ganga, the divine personification of the River Ganges. She wears a chaniya choli, a type of dress which consists of a long golden skirt and a yellow crop top decorated with flowers and gold trim. She wears an elaborate golden crown, earrings, and a large pendant necklace. Ganga bears four arms: her lower left has her palm facing down; her upper left is bent upward and hold a lotus blossom; her lower right has her palm facing upward; her upper right is bent upward and holds a gold water jug. A bright green halo with a gold border surrounds her head, above which is a floating umbrella (chhatri). The throne floats on water, which is covered in lotuses. Four makara, a crocodile-like creature of Hindu mythology and Ganga’s mount, recline by each throne leg. Behind a blue decorative fence with a gold frame and flanking either side are two female attendants holding fly-whisks above their heads. The background is an orange wall decorated with pairs of rose buds. An ochre curtain with gold flowers and a green border is rolled up at the top. The painting is framed by a yellow inner border and a red outer border. Rajput Style.

Classification

Paintings

Medium

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Culture

Indian

Century

20th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art