A painting of Rama and Sita

INDIA, JAIPUR, CIRCA 1800

Details

A painting of Rama and Sita
India, Jaipur, circa 1800
With Sita and Rama seated at center on a golden throne beneath an elaborate parasol and Lakshmana at left holding a peacock feather fan standing with Bharata and Shratrughna, female attendants and musicians at right and Hanuman and Garuda kneeling at front, the background with a lotus-filled pond surrounded by the extensive golden city of Ayodhya, heavily encrusted with mica and beads throughout
Opaque pigments, gold, mica and beads on paper
11 x 13 7/8 in. (28 x 35.3 cm.), image
13½ x 16 5/8 in. (34.2 x 42.2 cm.), folio

Provenance

Spink and Son, Ltd., London
Private collection, London, acquired in 2007

Literature

P. Pal, Dancing to the Flute: Music and Dance in Indian Art, 1997, pp. 78, 79, and 81, cat. no. 30

Exhibited

"Dancing to the Flute: Music and Dance in Indian Art," The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1997, cat. no. 30

Lot Essay

As postulated by Dr. Pal, the low table with weapons in front of Rama and Sita may signify that the painting depicts the celebration of Dusshera, the tenth day of Ashwin, when Rama defeated the demon Ravana. As part of this celebration, weapons are worshipped and offered to the gods. Compare with a painting of Shiva and Parvati, possibly from the same series, in J. Cummins, Indian Paintings from Cave Temples to the Colonial Period, 2006, p. 145, plate 79.

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