Arkivism
Divine couple seated in a lotus blossom
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Divine couple seated in a lotus blossom

early 1800s · Gum tempera and gold on paper

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

A gigantic, thousand-petaled lotus flower provides an intimate setting for the lovers. They sit on the seed pod of another full-blown lotus flower, which indicates their transcendent nature by elevating them from the mire of the earth. Shown with full face forward in all white, the four-armed male deity has the all-seeing third eye in his brow and holds only a manuscript. The red goddess on his lap grasps a lotus flower in one hand, which communicates her benign and peaceful nature. At the bottom are offerings of flowers, incense, oil lamps, and jeweled cups of pure water or liquor.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineDivine couple seated in a lotus blossom, early 1800s. Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Kangra. Gum tempera and gold on paper; sheet: 13.3 x 9 cm (5 1/4 x 3 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Mrs. A. Dean Perry, 1997.118

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