The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 14, 2025

Rishyashringa addresses the courtesans, from the "Shangri" Ramayana

c. 1700–1725

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms, Himachal Pradesh

Gum tempera and ink on paper
Page: 20 x 30.4 cm (7 7/8 x 11 15/16 in.)
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund 2002.6
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This painting remains slightly unfinished, without the final touches of gold.

Description

A king sent the courtesans to a forest ashram to convince the ascetic boy Rishyashringa to come back with them to the palace. The king believes that Rishyashringa's presence in the palace will bring about the end of a drought. Rishyashringa had never seen a woman before and was completely bewildered by them.
  • 1956
    Raghubir Singh of Shangri, Kulu Valley
    ?–2002
    (Kalesan Natesan, Natesan’s Galleries, Ltd., London, England, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2002–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Valmiki's Ramayana, Book I, Sarga 9, verses 13-15
  • Imagining Rama’s Journey. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 10-September 17, 2023).
    Indian Miniature Rotation (Gallery 115). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (February 20-August 18, 2004).
  • {{cite web|title=Rishyashringa addresses the courtesans, from the "Shangri" Ramayana|url=false|author=|year=c. 1700–1725|access-date=14 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2002.6