Shurpanakha demands vengeance, from the "Shangri" Ramayana

c. 1700

This object has related works. See

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms

Medium

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Measurements

Painting: 18.4 x 28.9 cm (7 1/4 x 11 3/8 in.); Page: 21.6 x 31.8 cm (8 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.107

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Location

010 Focus Gallery

Did You Know?

The Ramayana of Valmiki describes Shurpanakha as hideous, misshapen, and potbellied with hair the color of copper.

Description

In a dramatic climax, the artists introduce the demon king, Ravana (the Howler), archvillain of the Ramayana. He has 10 crowned heads and 20 arms. He grasps a different deadly weapon in each hand; they reveal his supreme powers. The demon Shurpanakha’s nose and ears are healing, but her desire for revenge is stronger than ever. She gestures emphatically at her brother Ravana, urging him to find a way to destroy Rama, perhaps by kidnapping Rama’s wife. More gold has been lavished on this painting than any other known from the “Shangri” Ramayana, suggesting that it is meant to stand out as a scene of primary importance.