Illustration to the Ramayana: Lakshmana Pulls a Thorn from Rama's Foot

This rare, elegant painting depicts a tender scene from the epic where Lakshmana carefully pulls out a thorn from Rama's foot as the latter steadies himself with his hand upon Hanuman's shoulder, the scene pictured in a calm, slyvan forest setting with a golden-hued sky as backdrop.

For another, earlier portrayal of the same scene formerly in the Stuart Cary Welch Collection, see Sotheby's London, May 31 2011, lot 54.

Depictions of this scene capturing the human side of these fearsome mythical warriors, are extremely uncommon. The figures are rendered with great delicacy and artfullness, their matted hair streaked with gold to match the blazing sky behind.