Artwork Page for Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series

Details / Information for Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series

Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series

c. 1765

Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Chamba, Court of Raj Singh

(reigned 1764–94)
Medium
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Measurements
Painting: 21.2 x 15.8 cm (8 3/8 x 6 1/4 in.); Overall: 26.8 x 19.4 cm (10 9/16 x 7 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1953.357
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Rama and Lakshmana wield divine bows in their fight against the ten-headed demon Ravana.

Description

Against the dark green and foreboding landscape, the final and much-anticipated battle between the demon king Ravana and the mighty princes Rama and Lakshmana unfolds. Ravana wields twenty weapons, including a poisonous snake in his front left hand. The blue Rama aims an enchanted crescent-shaped arrow at bees emitted from the donkey head at the apex of Ravana’s ten crowns. The arrow and bees stand for powerful mantras, or magical incantations, that can destroy one’s enemies. The impending defeat of Ravana will fulfill the purpose of Vishnu’s incarnation as Rama.
A vertically oriented tempera and gold painting depicts blue-skinned Rama and fair Lakshmana holding bows. On our right, the medium-dark, ten-headed, twenty-armed demon Ravana, topped by a donkey head, brandishes weapons and a circular black shield. Characters stand on a green field under white clouds. A thick red border frames the dark scene, where fine streaks of gold accentuate crowns and jewelry, and a flowering tree with orange dabs of paint leans over the heroes.

Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series

c. 1765

Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Chamba, Court of Raj Singh (reigned 1764–94)

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