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The artist, title and date of the work must be listed anywhere the image is reproduced:
Indian
The elephant Phundo (c. 1761-1765)
opaque watercolour and gold paint on paper
19.5 × 22.1 cm (image) 23.3 × 25.7 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1980
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
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About this work
Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati, is one of the most popular and widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His distinctive elephant head symbolises knowledge and wisdom, and he is the Hindu patron of arts and sciences. Also known as the ‘remover of obstacles’, his support is considered essential to the success of new endeavours, and therefore he is regularly invoked before religious ceremonies and undertakings of all kinds. Elephants, believed to represent the living incarnation of Ganesha, are sacred in the Hindu religion and revered in art. Elephants were so significant in the Rajput courts that these favoured animals were often honoured with privileges and painted in portraits.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Accession Number
AS209-1980
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation