Karttikeya, Commander of the Divine Army, Seated on a Peacock
Ganga Period, about 12th century
Medium
Basalt
Dimensions
150.5 × 121 × 39 cm (59 1/16 × 47 5/8 × 15 3/8 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
13853
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Karttikeya, Commander the Divine Army, Se on a Peacock*, a basalt sculpture from India's Ganga Period around the 12th century. This unknown artist's masterpiece captures the Hindu war god Karttikeya—son of Shiva and Parv—in a poised, regal seated posture atop his iconic mount, the peacock. Symbolizing victory and divine prowess, Karttikeya leads the celestial armies against evil, a motif deeply revered in Hindu mythology and temple worship. Carved during the Eastern Ganga dynasty's golden age in Odisha, this 1.5-meter-tall figure exemplifies the period's mastery of hard b...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...