
Painting study · Tempera
Descent of the Gangesc. 1700–1710 · Study 2018.111
Artist not recorded
c. 1700–1710
Recorded as Gum tempera and gold on paper, this horizontal work measures 26.9 × 17.6 cm using the museum’s image dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
In the upper left, Shiva sits with his wife Parvati on Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. She offers him a cup of wine, but Shiva looks down intently at the holy man Bhagiratha. He has stood on one leg for 1,001 years to obtain the gift of the Ganges River, which flows from Shiva’s topknot of hair. A dedicated devotee can divert the god’s attention, even from his beautiful wife and a cup of wine. By Mount Kailash is the icy Lake Manasarowar, still a major pilgrimage place for followers of Shiva. Hoping to earn the god’s favor, devoted practitioners perform acts of rigorous physical discipline.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
Shiva and the other sages rest on tiger hides.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected image measurement for Descent of the Ganges is 26.9 cm wide and 17.6 cm high, equivalent to approximately 10.6 × 6.9 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.53:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.05 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 9.0% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 136.6 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With Descent of the Ganges in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 26.9 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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