Indra and Indrani
因陀罗和因陀拉尼

Nepal, 15th Century
18.4 cm (7.25 in)

Collection of Mr. Fong Chow, Former Curator of Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Published:  Chow, F. “Arts from the Rooftop of Asia: Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir”, 1971, it. 13
Exhibited: Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Arts from the Rooftop of Asia: Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir”, 1971

 

The artistic merits of the Newar people of the Kathmandu valley during the Malla period were lauded and sought after by many of the most powerful Asian dynasties from the 12th through 18th centuries.  Their influence can be found throughout the history of Tibetan, Chinese, and South Asian art.  Their artistic skills were highly refined due in part to the competitive nature of the Kathmandu valley in which magnificent works of art, both public and private, were often produced as displays of power, sophistication, and religious devotion amongst rival principalities and kingdoms.  Artistic skill and technical precision was fostered generation after generation in proud family lineages resulting in some of the most sumptuous and delicate bronze statues ever produced.  

Hallmarks of the medieval Malla period include the LACMA Indra (HAR # 85798), Asia Society Avalokitesvara (HAR # 88673), and the Northumberland Indra (HAR # 12854) that sold at Sothebys in September 2014.  The Malla artists were masters of depicting the natural ease and relaxed attitude of the Nepalese gods they portrayed.  Indra is the considered to be the king of all gods in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.  While examples of Shiva and his consort, Parvati, can be found in a number of museum collections, very few such examples of Indra with his consort, Indrani, can be found.  A notable example is the Indra and Indrani at the Musée Des Arts Asiatiques in Nice, France.  

The present example can be considered a masterpiece of the Malla tradition in the elegant and relaxed manner in which the King of gods, Indra is depicted here with his arm placed gingerly around his lovers waist as she rests on his knee, their subtle smiles portrayed on delicate youthful faces.  

尼泊尔，15世纪
18.4厘米 (7.25英寸)

周方先生旧藏，大都会博物馆东方艺术馆前馆长

出版：周方Chow, F, “Arts from the Rooftop of Asia: Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir”, 1971年, 编号13
展览：大都会博物馆，“Arts from the Rooftop of Asia: Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir”, 1971年

 

从十二世纪至十八世纪，马拉王朝期间加德满都谷地的尼瓦尔艺术受到了许多最为强大的亚洲王朝的赞美和追崇。尼瓦尔艺术深深地影响了西藏，中国以及南亚艺术史。尼瓦尔艺术之所以成就很高，一部分原因是由于当时加德满都谷地所存在的竞争性：人们制造了无数精彩绝伦的艺术作品，无论公私，用以向敌国彰显权利、高雅和宗教信仰。他们的艺术技巧和精准的工艺随着一代接一代地形成，完善，并相传，制造出了许多有史以来最为精美的铜像。

中世纪马拉王朝的代表作品包括一件来自洛杉矶郡立艺术博物馆 (the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ) 的因陀罗像（喜马拉雅艺术资源中心编号：85798），一件亚洲协会 (Asia Society) 所藏的观世音像（喜马拉雅艺术资源中心编号：88673），以及一尊于2014年9月在苏富比拍出的因陀罗像（喜马拉雅艺术资源中心编号：12854）。马拉时期的艺术家们最为擅长的是刻画尼泊尔神灵自然放松的姿态。因陀罗被认为是印度教和佛教众神之首。虽然一些博物馆都藏有湿婆神和妻子帕尔瓦蒂的雕像，但是此种造型的因陀罗和妻子因陀拉尼像却极为少见。其中一个值得注意的因陀罗和因陀拉尼像现藏于法国尼斯亚洲艺术博物馆。

此尊塑像可以说是高雅自然的马拉风格的杰出代表。因陀拉尼坐于众神之首因陀罗膝上，因陀罗将手轻轻环绕于妻子腰间，年轻而精致的脸庞面露浅笑。