Shiva yogi on Mount Kailasa, Mughal India, probably Lucknow, - Lot 187

Shiva yogi on Mount Kailasa, Mughal India, probably Lucknow, 18th century Gouache and gold on paper depicting Shiva as a yogi ascetic, recognizable by his bun, his trishula trident and the tiger skin on which he is seated cross-legged, a symbol of potential energy. A crescent moon is drawn on his forehead. Surrounding him are five women: on the left, three musicians play small finger percussion instruments, the vina and the mridangam; on the right, two kneeling women present offerings. The woman facing the god is probably Parvati. The nocturnal scene takes place on a small hill bordered by a body of water floating with water lilies, with a wood populated by parakeets in the background. Mounted on an album page with two borders of gilded rinceaux on a white then blue background, and a margin with a gilded floral frieze of rosettes framed by four saz leaves. Framed. Painting size: 22 x 13.5 cm; overall size: 35.3 x 26.6 cm Traces of glue, some polychromatic bleeding, paper slightly warped. Provenance: Sotheby's sale, London, December 17, 1969, lot 12. In this painting, Shiva, wearing a bun and ashen-skinned, is presented as a master of yoga, which he practiced on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas. He lived a life of asceticism. Bibliography : Yoga - Ascètes, yogis, soufis, Exhibition catalog, Musée National des Arts asiatiques Guimet, Paris: 2022, pp 13, 18-19. Private collection, Paris, lots 166 to 193.