The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 16, 2026

Sita asks Rama to fetch the golden deer, from the “Shangri” Ramayana

c. 1700–1725

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms, Himachal Pradesh

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Page: 21.2 x 31.5 cm (8 3/8 x 12 3/8 in.); Painting: 18.2 x 28.2 cm (7 3/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
Sundry Art - Miscellaneous Fund 2025.7
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The spots on the golden deer show that it shimmers with multiple colors.

Description

Sita, who accompanied her husband and brother-in-law into the forest for a 14-year exile, points to a magical golden deer. She points too to her husband Rama, the blue-skinned divine hero, entreating him to catch the creature for her to have as a beguiling pet. He is unwilling to leave her, but he will, falling for a demon’s ploy to abduct Sita.
  • ?–2015
    Swiss collection, sold in London to Francesca Galloway
    2015–2025
    (Francesca Galloway, London, England, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2025–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Sita asks Rama to fetch the golden deer, from the “Shangri” Ramayana|url=false|author=|year=c. 1700–1725|access-date=16 March 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2025.7