An illustration to the Ramayana: Rama and Lakshmana are wounded

Acquired from Marco Polo Gallery, Paris, 1980s, thence by descent

The illustration from the Yudh Kanda of the Epic depicts Rama, his brother Lakshmana lying supine in the foreground bleeding and wounded by a hail of arrows. They are surrounded by other wounded members of the monkey and bear army also seen lying on the ground amidst a heap of tree limbs and boulders. At lower right Hanuman and Vibhishana survey the scene with great distress. The golden citadel of Lanka is seen perched atop a circle of steep cliffs on the upper right with its demon lord Ravana seated within.

According to the epic, Ravana’s son Indrajeet who was a skilled marksman wreaked havoc on the monkey army and grievously wounded Rama and Lakshmana. In order to revive them, Hanuman flew across the seas to the Dronagiri mountains to find the lifegiving Sanjeevani herb. He is pictured on the upper left embarking upon this journey.

For other illustrations from the same series: see Roy C. Craven (ed.), Ramayana Pahari Paintings, Bombay, 1990. Also see Sotheby's New York, March 22 2002, lots 59 & 60; Sotheby's New York, November 14, 2002, lot 84; and Sotheby’s New York, March 21, 2012, lot 210 for other illustrations from the series sold in these salerooms.