Artwork Page for Leaf from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (Indian, died 1740)

Details / Information for Leaf from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (Indian, died 1740)

Leaf from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (Indian, died 1740)

late 1700s

Eastern India, Odisha

View all records in artwork set
Medium
Charcoal on palm leaf
Measurements
Overall: 4.8 x 40.2 cm (1 7/8 x 15 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1979.21
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This leaf from an 18th-century romance manuscript comes from a section of the book that retells the epic battle between the demon Ravana and the god-hero Rama. The 10-headed multiarmed demon Ravana is the second figure from the right. Rama’s army of monkeys and bears, wielding tree branches and clods of earth, fill the remainder of the leaf. The images were created using a stylus that incised into the palm leaf; charcoal was then rubbed over the leaf and wiped off, leaving only the incised areas in black.
A horizontally oriented drawing in black ink on two tan palm leaf strips depicts narrative scenes. The top strip features a ten-headed figure on the left and a reclining figure with yellow skin on the right. The bottom strip shows a dense battle scene where figures use bows and arrows near a structure. Central binding holes punctuate both leaves. Intricate linework and handwritten script appear throughout the composition.

Leaf from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (Indian, died 1740)

late 1700s

Eastern India, Odisha

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork