Annapurna and Shiva (c. 1890): Art, History and Details

Annapurna and Shiva (c. 1890) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

Goddess Annapurna (She of Plenteous Food) is depicted being supplicated by Shiva, seen as an ascetic who seeks alms from her. Seated on a throne she places food (possibly rice) in Shiva’s bowl with a spoon held in her right hand. Even Shiva is dependent on her for nourishment and food. A mendicant’s bag is hung on Shiva’s right shoulder.

Object facts

• Title: Annapurna and Shiva
• Date: c. 1890
• Culture: Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat
• Type: Painting
• Technique: Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper
• Dimensions: Secondary Support: 50.3 x 30.7 cm (19 13/16 x 12 1/16 in.); Painting only: 45.5 x 27.6 cm (17 15/16 x 10 7/8 in.)
• Collection: Indian Art
• Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
• Accession number: 2003.162

Collection credit

Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.