|
4. Lakshmi South India 13th c. Chola period Chlorite 32 inches |
This sculpture of Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu, is a perfect example of Chola art. Standing in a subtle tribangha pose, she wears a long pleated dhoti covering her legs to the ankles and elegantly tied at the waist. Her left hand is raised and holds a lotus blossom. The right rests gracefully against her body. With her round, generous breasts, her narrow waist, pronounced hips and long legs, Lakshmi fits the description of perfect Indian beauty. Her divinity is accented by the heavy jewelry she wears on her ears and around her neck. She wears a royal tiara from which her hair drifts in waves to form an aura around her head. This use of hair to symbolize the aura of the gods is recurrent in Chola art. From the second half of the 9th century to the start of the 13th, the builder sovereigns of southern India were known for their almost exclusive devotion to the god Shiva. The mastery of the iconography and the supple shapes of Chola sculpture make them especially esthetic pieces, in addition to being of vital historic importance. The fluidity of this depiction is filled with a great gentleness that perfectly meets the artistic code of the Chola period. Although the most famous pieces are made of bronze, stone statues are more rare and closely linked with religious sites. |