The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 24, 2024
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
(reigned 1690–1720)
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.)
Location: not on view
Did You Know?
This painting remains slightly unfinished, without the final touches of gold.Description
In front of their hut, a priest and his wife announce to the four princesses of Mithila that they are to marry the princes of Ayodhya. Sita, who will become the wife of the hero Rama, is probably the figure wearing the white flowered garment, since she stands out the most against the saturated ochre background. Had the painting been finished, gold would have been applied to the jewelry and other accouterments.Lacking in spatial depth and ground plane, the scene is set and dramatized by means of bold color, overlapping textures, expressive gestures, and intense gazes.
- 1956Raghubir 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
- Imagining Rama's Journey (Indian Painting rotation). 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=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)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1690–1720|access-date=24 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2002.6