id: 314241 accession number: 2018.107 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2018.107 updated: 2023-08-24 01:24:04.624000 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; overall: 21.6 x 31.8 cm (8 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.); painting: 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 title: 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) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1690–1710 creation date earliest: 1680 creation date latest: 1720 current location: 242B Indian Painting creditline: Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund copyright: --- culture: Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, possibly Rajput Kingdom of Mandi, court of Sidh Sen (reigned 1684–1727) technique: Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 21.6 x 31.8 cm (8 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.); Painting: 18.4 x 28.9 cm (7 1/4 x 11 3/8 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: [[verso, lower right corner, in Sanskrit, upside down]] aranya 61 translation: remark: inscription: [[recto, in the borders, indistinct Takri script]] Shurpanakhā (?)--- lankā āyī ---- rāvaṇe prati jhūth bachan boldī hoyi je tan raje bich matra (?) hoyī hai. Sri rām chandre khar dūsana sāra māre mera dheya(?) hoyā. Sri rām chandre de sath isdī ek istri ---- translation: remark: inscription: [[verso, top, in Takri script]] 71 translation: remark: inscription: [[verso, left side, in Takri script]] 71 translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Indian Gallery 242 Rotation opening date: 2018-09-10T04:00:00 Indian Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (September 10, 2018-April 7, 2019). 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 Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (September 10, 2018-April 7, 2019). * The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (organizer) (October 21, 2016-January 15, 2017). * Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (February 20-May 29, 2011); Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY (June 24-October 2, 2011). --- PROVENANCE (Walter Randal, New York, NY, sold to Ralph Benkaim) date: 1956–July 1969 footnotes: citations: Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim Collection date: December 1969–2018 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 2018– footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: The Ramayana of Valmiki describes Shurpanakha as hideous, misshapen, and potbellied with hair the color of copper. digital description: The golden island city of Lanka, inhabited by demons, is ruled by their ten-headed king Ravana, shown at right wielding a different weapon in each of his 20 hands. At the center of the composition, Ravana’s red-haired sister laments that Rama and his brother Lakshmana spurned her advances and humiliated her. To avenge his sister’s mutilation, and intrigued by reports of Sita’s beauty, Ravana decides to abduct Sita and claim her for himself.

Gold leaf makes the ramparts and turrets of Lanka glimmer splendidly, a sharp contrast to the dreadful residents. wall description: The golden island city of Lanka, inhabited by demons, is ruled by their ten-headed king Ravana, shown at right wielding a different weapon in each of his 20 hands. At the center of the composition, Ravana’s red-haired sister laments that Rama and his brother Lakshmana spurned her advances and humiliated her. To avenge his sister’s mutilation, and intrigued by reports of Sita’s beauty, Ravana decides to abduct Sita and claim her for himself.

Gold leaf makes the ramparts and turrets of Lanka glimmer splendidly, a sharp contrast to the dreadful residents.


[older label, from 10/30/2018 below]:
In one of India’s major Hindu epics, the Ramayana, the god Vishnu incarnated himself as the hero Rama in order to defeat the powerful demon Ravana, who has 20 arms and 10 heads, seen in the boat at the upper right. This scene takes place on the island of Lanka, Ravana’s capital, surrounded by a golden brick wall and populated by his demon minions. Just inside the door, Ravana’s sister, the demoness with crimson hair, is demanding that her brother avenge the severing of her nose by Rama’s brother. Ravana decided then to abduct Rama’s wife, Sita, the act that propelled the climactic battle.

The place where this important, extensive Ramayana series was painted remains uncertain. Scholars have argued for one or another Pahari court, but no definitive evidence has yet come to light. --- RELATED WORKS id: 162328 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; painting: 18.5 x 28.7 cm (7 5/16 x 11 5/16 in.); overall: 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 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; overall: 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 Cummins, Joan. Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior. Grantha, 2011. page number: Reproduced: cat. no. 80. url: McGill, Forest, ed. The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2016. page number: Reproduced: cat. no. 118, pp. 203, 228. url: --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2018.107/2018.107_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2018.107/2018.107_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2018.107/2018.107_full.tif