370 - STANDING BRONZE VAIRBHADRA INDIA 18TH CENTURY

STANDING BRONZE VAIRBHADRA INDIA 18TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 18,2 cm Wide 10 cm Depth 7 cm Weight: 697 grams A standing bronze figure of the fierce Shaiva deity Virabhadra, set beneath an architectural arch edged with a succession of pierced circular ornaments. The deity wears a high headdress and heavy jewellery, his right arm raised with a curved sword and the other holding a broad shield. A small projecting head crowns the arch, lending the composition an additional protective presence. The surface is deeply textured, with brown patination, pale deposits and wear softening the details of the face and ornaments; the strong verticals of the frame nevertheless preserve a monumental effect. Virabhadra is the warrior manifestation brought forth from Shiva's wrath in the story of Daksha's sacrifice, where he embodies the terrible energy of divine retribution. The sword and shield make his protective and martial character immediately legible, while the framed, shrine-like format situates him within a devotional setting. Images of Virabhadra are especially prominent in South Indian Shaiva traditions.