Artwork preview

Panel of a Portable Shrine with Karttikeya, the God of War

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a rectangular stone panel with a raised design. The panel has a flat top that is irregularly shaped, with a curved edge on the right side and a more jagged edge on the left. A bearded male figure is carved into the stone with his right arm raised and bent at the elbow, and his left arm extended downward. He wears a short dhoti around his waist, and a necklace or garland around his neck. A weapon resembling a spear or trident is positioned vertically to the left of the man. To the right of the man, a figure resembling a lion or tiger faces the man. On the left side of the panel, a much smaller figure faces the man. The background of the image features a gradient transitioning from dark gray at the top to light gray at the bottom. A subtle shadow is cast by the panel to the right.

Artwork Details

Date
6th century
Medium
Schist
Culture
Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)
Dimensions
468 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette