A gray schist stele depicting Surya, Northeastern India, Pala period, 11th century

Acquired in Bangladesh, circa 1970. 

The sun god Surya stands on a lotus on a base below beaded garlands and gandharvas, both hands holding fully bloomed lotuses, wearing a dhoti, high boots, and a tall, narrow crown. At the top of the ovular stele that comes to a soft point is a kirtimukha or ‘face of glory’, beneath which we see two apsara–celestial nymphs in flight who pay homage to Surya with silk scarves. Beside these wonderfully-carved lotus flowers, Surya is artistically framed by negative space and two identical sarabha, mythical lion-bodied creatures who are often seen subding other creatures of the animal realm. Flanked by Rajni and Nisprabha, celestial figures and protectors, including archers who drive away darkness at the feet of his main retinue, all of these surrounding figures are mounted on Arua’s seven-horsed chariot beneath the plinth that supports Surya. A very similar tenth-century artwork of, perhaps, lesser quality can be found in the Seattle Art Museum (accession no. 45.59).