Chola India · Cleveland Museum of Art · 1930.331
Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance
Unknown Tamil sculptor, 11th century
Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · Public domain
- Artist
- Unknown Tamil sculptor
- Date
- 11th century
- Medium
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- 113 × 102 × 30 cm
- Era
- Chola India
Why it matters
Shiva’s cosmic dance holds creation and destruction in a single rhythm. The encircling flames, lifted foot, flying locks, and precisely balanced gestures make theology tangible as movement through bronze.