Savitri Triumphs over Yama, the God of Death
12th/13th century
Medium
Sandstone
Dimensions
47.6 × 33.2 × 12.3 cm (18 3/4 × 13 1/8 × 4 7/8 in.)
Classification
stone (unidentified)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
130671
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This sculpture portrays a story in which Savitri, a devoted wife, wins back her husband, Satyavan, from the god of death, Yama. She married him despite warnings that he would die within one year and performed deep penance in the hope of securing the gods’ help. In the scene depicted here, on the prophesied day of his death Satyavan has gone to cut wood in the forest, where he falls ill. Savitri can be seen in the background pleading with Yama for her husband’s life.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...