id:			162438
accession number:	2003.109.a
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.109.a
updated:		2022-01-04 17:31:37.614000

Jatayu Hinders Ravana’s Chariot, Trying to Prevent the Abduction of Sita (recto), c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Watercolor, graphite, and ink on paper; secondary support: 47.8 x 29.4 cm (18 13/16 x 11 9/16 in.); painting only: 30.4 x 25.5 cm (11 15/16 x 10 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.109.a

title:				Jatayu Hinders Ravana’s Chariot, Trying to Prevent the Abduction of Sita (recto)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1890
creation date earliest:		1875
creation date latest:		1905
current location:		
creditline:			Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward
copyright:			

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culture:	Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat
technique:	Watercolor, graphite, and ink on paper
department:	Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection:	Indian Art
type:		Painting
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Secondary Support: 47.8 x 29.4 cm (18 13/16 x 11 9/16 in.); Painting only: 30.4 x 25.5 cm (11 15/16 x 10 1/16 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Indian Kalighat Paintings
	opening date:   2011-05-01T00:00:00
	<i>Indian Kalighat Paintings</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	William E. Ward [1922-2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
	date: ?-2003
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
	date: 2003-
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 


digital description: 


wall description: 
This is an image of the ten-headed demon Ravana and Sita, wife of Rama, in a chariot held in the beak of the bird Jatayu, king of the vultures. When Ravana abducted Sita and carried her off in the flying chariot, Jatayu, a great devotee of Rama, engaged him in aerial battle to rescue her. Unsuccessful, he fell to earth, mortally wounded. It was from Jatayu that Rama found out about his wife. This story is from the epic Ramayana (The Journey of Rama). Here, in the Bengali version of this episode, Jatayu attempts to swallow the chariot in order to kill Ravana, but is forced to vomit it out once he realizes that Sita is on board. Jatayu is portrayed as a hero rather than as a failure.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.109.a/2003.109.a_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.109.a/2003.109.a_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.109.a/2003.109.a_full.tif