Enthroned Rama and Sita receive homage from their monkey and bear Allies, from the Yuddha Kanda (Book of the War) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)

c. 1765

Enthroned Rama and Sita receive homage from their monkey and bear Allies, from the Yuddha Kanda (Book of the War) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey), c. 1765. Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Nurpur. Gum tempera and gold on paper; page: 40.7 x 28.9 cm (16 x 11 3/8 in.); image: 23.7 x 14.9 cm (9 5/16 x 5 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.117 This scene is set at the end of the Hindu epic Ramayana, after Rama returns from 14 years of exile in the forest. During Rama’s time of exile, Ravana abducted Rama’s wife Sita. Rama gathered an army of monkeys and bears, and rescued Sita. The chiefs of the monkey and bear armies pay their respects to the reunited royal couple. Rama’s three brothers can be seen at the right side of the painting.