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Harihara

Harihara
 (late 19th century)

Medium
watercolour, ink and silver paint over charcoal on paper (Kalighat school)
Measurements
45.0 × 27.7 cm (image and sheet)
Place/s of Execution
Calcutta, India
Inscription
inscribed in pen and brown ink l.l.: Hari-Hara. / The half of Hari the supporter / and the half of Hara the / destroyer of the world.
inscribed in pen and brown ink (in Bengali script) l.r.:
Accession Number
3036A-4
Department
Asian Art
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1953
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
The seated four armed figure of Harihara incorporates Shiva on the figure’s right side and Vishnu on the left side. It is painted in ink and watercolour over charcoal with silver details. Vishnu is blue and wears a yellow dhoti, a red mala (garland) and silver armlets, necklace and anklet. His attributes are hard to identify but he appears to hold a noose in his lower hand and a mace in his upper hand. He has long black hair and wears an earring and crown. Shiva is depicted wearing a tiger skin and with coiled hair, both attributes of an ascetic yogi. He holds a vina (stringed instrument) and is accompanied by two snakes.