Descent of the Ganges
Unknown Artist
c. 1700–1710
Medium
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Dimensions
image: 17.6 × 26.9 cm · page: 20.8 × 29.8 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
2018.111
About this artwork
Shiva and Parvati sit atop a three-tiered mountain while below, Bhagiratha receives the Ganges issuing from Shiva’s jata. Before Shiva, against a yellow background and seated at the edge of a pool, are three ascetics. One is frozen with his hand up after meditating for so long in that position.