Kali the Goddess of Destruction

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Kali the Goddess of Destruction

Entry/Object ID

1998.09.04

Description

The painting depicts a central figure with multiple heads and arms, each arm holding different symbolic objects. The figure is adorned in vibrant colors including deep blue, pink, and orange. A garland of skulls is worn around the figure’s neck, and the tongues of the heads are extended.

Type of Painting

Watercolor

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper

Subject

Kali

Subject Person

Kali

Subject Place

Country

India

Acquisition

Accession

1998.09

Source or Donor

Derek Davenport

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Derek Davenport

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Region

Madhubani

Country

India

Notes

Traditionally produced by women, Madhubani/Mithila paintings are identifiable by bright colors, geometric patterning, and two-dimensionality.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Attribution, Label

Location

Back Upper Left Corner

Transcription

KALI, the Goddess of destruction.

Language

English

Material/Technique

Label

Type

Note

Location

Back Bottom Right Corner

Transcription

1998.09.04 DAD

Language

English

Material/Technique

Pencil

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

30 in

Width

22 in

Provenance

Notes

Derek Davenport (1927-2017), West Lafayette, Indiana; donated to the Purdue University Galleries in 1998