Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Radha
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)
This female figure, from the eastern Indian region of West Bengal, is almost certainly Radha, lover of the god Krishna. As a human woman who devotes herself completely and passionately to her god, Radha exemplifies an ideal for Krishna devotees to emulate. By the strength of her devotion, she is transformed from a beloved human "gopi" (cowherd) into a divine goddess.
Radha is worshiped through sculptures like this one. Within a shrine, the sculpture would be dressed and adorned with jewelry, and a flower might be placed in her left hand. The repeated application of ritual liquids, such as river water or oil, and centuries of devotional touching have smoothed Radha’s facial features.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi, India; purchased by John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore; given to Walters Art Museum, 2000.
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, West Bengal (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 6 5/16 × W: 3 15/16 × D: 2 in. (16 × 10 × 5.1 cm); Diameter of base: 2 in. (5.1 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John and Berthe Ford, 2000
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.
54.2962