Vrishvahana Shiva - Bronze Sculpture - South India - Late 19th Or Early 20th Century -

BRONZE SCULPTURE REPRESENTING VRISHVAHANA SHIVA "AVATAR OF SHIVA" FROM THE LATE 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY - VERY BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL PATINA AND BEAUTIFUL CARVING - The names and forms of Shiva are numerous. In the dance of many forms, the Nataraj, the dance of creation and destruction of Shiva, they are listed as 108 in the Shiva Purana, the deity reveals himself in 1000 different aspects. Vrishvahana is one of them. Here in this Chola bronze, Shiva is represented as the ideal male, perfect in proportion, he is deeply convincing in his physical beauty. Indeed, this representation of the perfect human form is an essential mark of Chola bronzes. The distinctive Chola style emerged during the reign of Aditya Chola (870-906 AD) and is characterized by sensual beauty, geometric perfection, powerful presence and complexity of design. This depiction of Vrishvahana shows the deity in an artful and supple pose just before the movement. This Shiva's head mount is a symmetrical swirl of the yogi's fearsome locks that elegantly transitions into the cobra often seen around Shiva's neck. The face is masculine but pure and peaceful in its gaze. The subtle ornamentation is finely detailed but not excessive. The representation of the body is extraordinarily flexible, once again an example of the human form.