The divine body of a mighty god rendered in elegant bronze.
The Hindu deity Shiva
Approx. 1300–1500
India; Tamil Nadu state
Bronze
The Avery Brundage Collection, B69S14
A product of the famous bronze-casting workshops of medieval South India, this image of Shiva projects the perfection of the deity. Following the style of the time, the artist has exaggerated the broadness of the figure’s shoulders and the narrowness of the waist, creating a beautiful, even sensuous, divine body. Like other bronze images of Hindu gods, this statue was designed to be carried through the streets during ceremonial processions to interact with worshipers, conferring blessings and receiving devotion.
