Mother Goddess
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.
Details
- Palette
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Select a color to find related artworks.
- Medium
- schist
- Dimensions
- overall: height 0.794 m, width 0.232 m
- Department
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image provider
- cleveland-museum-of-art
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Credit
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Art Genome Taxonomy
9 tags
Subject Matter
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Human Figure Both · 99%
The image clearly shows two human figures, an adult woman and a child, and the catalog identifies the subject as a mother goddess with her toddler.
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Family Both · 99%
The mother and child are physically connected as she holds the child’s wrist; the museum description explicitly characterizes this as a mother attentively guiding her toddler.
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Deities and Holy Figures Metadata · 97%
The catalog title identifies the subject as “Mother Goddess,” and the museum places such figures in shrine sets near Hindu temple entrances.
Visual Qualities
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Curvilinear Forms Visual · 88%
The figures, drapery, limbs, jewelry, and surrounding disk are dominated by rounded, flowing contours and organic curves.
Medium and Techniques
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Sculpture Both · 99%
The catalog classifies the work as sculpture, and the image visibly presents a carved, three-dimensional group on an integral base.
Time Periods
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500 - 1000 CE Art Metadata · 99%
The museum dates the sculpture circa 600 CE, within the cataloged 500–1000 CE period.
Geographic Regions
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Indian Art Metadata · 99%
The catalog gives the place of origin as northwestern India, Rajasthan, Udaipur District.
Materials
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Stone Metadata · 99%
The catalog identifies the medium as schist, which is a type of stone.
Cultural and Religious Styles
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Hindu Art and Architecture Metadata · 94%
The museum describes the figure as part of sets of mother goddesses installed near Hindu temple entrances.
Source & rights
Unknown artist. Mother Goddess. Cleveland Museum of Art.