Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Head of Bhairava
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)
Brimming with a fearsome energy that radiates from his coiled hair, menacing smile, and angry gaze, Bhairava is a terrifying form of the Hindu god Shiva. His bulging eyes and sharp fangs signal his wrath, and the skull adorning his hair points to his association with cremation grounds. The mismatched earrings allude to his complex character: As a powerful god, Shiva embodies contrasting qualities, both peaceful and violent, both creative and destructive.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore; given to Walters Art Museum, 2009.
Exhibitions
| 2001-2003 | Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal, and Tibet in the John and Berthe Ford Collection. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong. |
Geographies
India, Uttar Pradesh (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 9 9/16 × W: 6 7/8 × D: 6 in. (24.3 × 17.5 × 15.3 cm); Overall H with post: 10 7/8 in. (27.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John and Berthe Ford, 2009
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
25.261