Ganesha Dancing

Gallery 307, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Main Building

Ganesha Dancing

17th century

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Shiva's elephant-headed son, Ganesha, is perhaps the most widely worshipped Hindu god, for he is the source of all success for ordinary people. As the God of Auspicious Beginnings, he has the power to put obstacles in the way-or to remove them-and thus is invoked at the beginning of every new undertaking. The image of Ganesha dancing conveys the joyous wisdom that he embodies, the knowledge that humans are one with the divine. His body sways in a triple bend to an unheard rhythm, and his dance reverberates throughout the universe.

Gallery 307, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Object Details

Title:

Ganesha Dancing

Date:

17th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Bronze

Dimensions:

2 5/8 × 1 7/16 × 1 1/4 inches (6.7 × 3.7 × 3.2 cm)

Classification:

Sculpture

Credit Line:

Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994

Accession Number:

1994-148-91

Geography:

Made in Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

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Gallery 307, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Main Building

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