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The Goddess Parvarti

Unknown

1891

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Goddess Parvarti is a 1891 photographic by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1891 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This photo shows a carved stone figure sitting in a rocky cave. The figure has four arms, a calm face, and is draped in flowing cloth. Around it, smaller carvings and rough cave walls create a shadowy background. The photo was taken in 1891, showing the cave’s natural setting. The figure is labeled as *The Goddess Parvati*, though it’s unclear if that’s the original name. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more carvings like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The image depicts the Goddess Parvati at the Elephanta Caves, part of rock-cut temples on Elephanta Island dated approximately between 450 and 750 A.D. These caves feature sculpted panels of the Hindu pantheon, with Parvati appearing alongside her consort Shiva, who is represented in a triple-headed form embodying the roles of creator, preserver, and destroyer within the central cave.

Read the full account in the museum source.