Artwork

Shiva and His Followers Return to Mount Kailash (verso), from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (1670–1740)

Shiva and His Followers Return to Mount Kailash (verso), from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (1670–1740) is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2018.175.b
Credit line: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund

About this work

Overview

This painting, 'Shiva and His Followers Return to Mount Kailash,' is one page from a handmade book, likely a romance narrative, created on palm leaf using a combination of etching and painting techniques.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts Shiva returning to his Himalayan abode, Mount Kailash, on his bull Nandi, surrounded by a wilderness landscape of trees, birds, and deer, with an empty but furnished cave awaiting his arrival.

Technique & Style

The artwork was created by etching lines into the palm leaf with a stylus, then filling the grooves with black soot, and finally adding color with a brush, resulting in a vibrant and detailed illustration.

History & Provenance

The painting is attributed to an artist from eastern India, specifically the region of Odisha, and is associated with the literary work 'Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati' by Upendra Bhanja, dated between 1670 and 1740.