Bronze statue of Shiva Nataraja, the cosmic dancer

Bronze statue of Shiva Nataraja, cosmic dancer. Green patina, India, mid-20th century.

Provenance: Former Claude de Marteau collection.

• H 72 cm x D 18 cm x W 55 cm (=diameter).

A second representation of Shiva Nataraja from the garden of Claude de Marteau

This sculpture represents Shiva Nataraja, or “Shiva, Lord of the Dance,” one of the most famous representations in Hindu art. In this image, Shiva embodies the perpetual movement of the universe, where destruction and creation are part of the same cosmic cycle. His foot crushes the demon Apasmara, a symbol of ignorance, while the circle of flames evokes the universe in perpetual transformation. The Damaru, a small drum he holds in one hand, announces the creation of the world through primordial sound, while the flame held in another symbolizes its destruction before a new rebirth. His abhaya mudrā gesture reassures the faithful, and his raised foot opens the way to spiritual liberation.

Two large bronze figures of Shiva Nataraja found in the garden of Claude de Marteau in Brussels.

This bronze statue comes from the estate of Claude de Marteau, where it adorned his garden. It was part of a set including a second, very comparable sculpture of slightly larger dimensions, both installed amidst the property’s vegetation. The presence of several Shiva Nataraja figures in Claude de Marteau’s garden naturally evokes the remarkable Chola bronze he sold to John D. Rockefeller III in May 1965. Bequeathed by the latter to The Asia Society in New York in 1979, this sculpture is now among the most prestigious works whose provenance traces back to the famous Belgian dealer and collector.

Beyond its quality of execution, this work bears witness to Claude de Marteau’s passion for the great figures of Indian art, which he did not merely collect but lived with daily. Installed in his garden for many years, this representation of Shiva Nataraja perfectly illustrates the dialogue he maintained between works of art and their environment. Today, it constitutes a remarkable testimony to this exceptional provenance, while offering Asian art enthusiasts an emblematic sculpture of Hindu spirituality.