id: 162328 accession number: 2002.6 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2002.6 updated: 2023-03-15 15:46:45.035000 The royal priest Shatananda confirms that the four princesses of Mithila should marry the sons of King Dasharatha, from Chapter 70 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood), folio 13 from a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey), c. 1690–1720. Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, possibly Rajput Kingdom of Chamba, court of Udai Singh (reigned 1690–1720). Gum tempera and ink on paper; image: 18.5 x 28.7 cm (7 5/16 x 11 5/16 in.); page: 20 x 30.4 cm (7 7/8 x 11 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund 2002.6 title: The royal priest Shatananda confirms that the four princesses of Mithila should marry the sons of King Dasharatha, from Chapter 70 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood), folio 13 from a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1690–1720 creation date earliest: 1680 creation date latest: 1730 current location: 242B Indian Painting creditline: Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund copyright: --- culture: Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, possibly Rajput Kingdom of Chamba, court of Udai Singh (reigned 1690–1720) technique: Gum tempera and ink on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Image: 18.5 x 28.7 cm (7 5/16 x 11 5/16 in.); Page: 20 x 30.4 cm (7 7/8 x 11 15/16 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: [[verso, upper left corner]] bāl. 70 (?) translation: remark: inscription: [[recto, left margin]] 13 translation: remark: inscription: [[recto, upper left corner]] 13 translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Imagining Rama's Journey (Indian Painting rotation) opening date: 2023-03-10T05:00:00 Imagining Rama's Journey (Indian Painting rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 10-September 17, 2023). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (February 20-August 18, 2004). --- PROVENANCE Raghubir Singh of Shangri, Kulu Valley date: 1956 footnotes: citations: (Kalesan Natesan, Natesan’s Galleries, Ltd., London, England, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) date: ?–2002 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 2002– footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: This painting remains slightly unfinished, without the final touches of gold. digital description: In front of their hut, a priest and his wife announce to the four princesses of Mithila that they are to marry the princes of Ayodhya. Sita, who will become the wife of the hero Rama, is probably the figure wearing the white flowered garment, since she stands out the most against the saturated ochre background. Had the painting been finished, gold would have been applied to the jewelry and other accouterments.

Lacking in spatial depth and ground plane, the scene is set and dramatized by means of bold color, overlapping textures, expressive gestures, and intense gazes. wall description: In front of their hut, a priest and his wife announce to the four princesses of Mithila that they are to marry the princes of Ayodhya. Sita, who will become the wife of the hero Rama, is probably the figure wearing the white flowered garment, since she stands out the most against the saturated ochre background. Had the painting been finished, gold would have been applied to the jewelry and other accouterments.
Lacking in spatial depth and ground plane, the scene is set and dramatized by means of bold color, overlapping textures, expressive gestures, and intense gazes.


[below is the older label]:
This painting represents an illustration to the famous Ramayama epic which recounts the story of Rama, a mortal and an ideal ruler who eventually became deified as an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. The scene shows Rama and his consort, Sita, in front of a straw hut, accompanied by four female attendants, as they make their way to see a priest to set their wedding date. This series is known as the "Shangri" set, which takes its name from the place of residence of the Kulu royal family. Originally the set consisted of approximately 270 miniatures and was divided into four distinct groups. This painting represents Style III, characterized by a sparse composition with the figures and objects crisply delineated against a solid yellow background. --- RELATED WORKS id: 314241 Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha complains that Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears, from Chapter 30 of the Aranya Kanda (Book of the Forest) of a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey), c. 1690–1710. Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, possibly Rajput Kingdom of Mandi, court of Sidh Sen (reigned 1684–1727). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; page: 21.6 x 31.8 cm (8 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.); image: 18.4 x 28.9 cm (7 1/4 x 11 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.107 relationship: id: 159647 King Dasharatha sends his chief minister Sumantra to summon Rama, from Chapter 16 of the Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya), folio 18 of a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey), c. 1690–1710. Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, possibly Rajput Kingdom of Chamba, court of Udai Singh (reigned 1690–1720). Gum tempera and ink on paper; page: 22.5 x 32.7 cm (8 7/8 x 12 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Norman Zaworski in honor of Sherman and Ruth Lee 1996.361 relationship: --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2002.6/2002.6_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2002.6/2002.6_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2002.6/2002.6_full.tif