Mother Goddess

Description

Sets of mother goddesses were installed in shrines near the entrance to Hindu temples. From one of the most naturalistic and charming sets, this mother attentively grasps the wrist of her toddler to gently guide him, while smiling lovingly and patiently at him. The simplicity of garments and ornament is characteristic of sculpture of the sixth century, and the naturalistic qualities of this work from northwestern India suggest connections with the Greco-Roman styles of Gandhara, in present-day Pakistan.

Provenance

(Doris and Ed Wiener, New York, NY (1968–1970); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1970–)

Mother Goddess

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c. 600

Accession Number

1970.12

Medium

schist

Dimensions

Overall: 79.4 x 23.2 cm (31 1/4 x 9 1/8 in.)

Classification

Sculpture

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund