Cleveland Museum of Art

Female Tree Deity with Attendant

Date

c. 973

Medium

sandstone

Culture

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Sikar, Harshagiri, 10th century

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Memories of the nature divinities so important on the exterior of ancient Buddhist sites persist in female figures such as this on Hindu temples of the medieval period. Her form personifies fecundity, and the mango tree with which she is integrated bursts into the fruits that dangle down the side of the sculpture. Her attendant gazes into a mirror. This sculpture exemplifies the stylistic characteristics of the 900s, with the exaggerated thrust of her hip, and dense, crisply rendered areas of jewelry offset by smooth planes of flesh. Facial features are articulated with linear clarity and sharp outlines. These idealized female figures convey the notion of auspicious abundance and prosperity in the created world, which are benefits of worship and support of the temple. There is a small monkey perched by the tree deity's shoulder.

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