Sugriva challenges his brother Vali, King of the Forest Dwellers, to a duel, folio 10 from the Kishkindha Kanda (Book of Kishkindha) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)
Unknown Artist
c. 1700–1720
Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
20.7 × 31 cm · painting: 16.4 × 26.8 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1973.103
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In a morally ambiguous scene, the white monkey Sugriva calls to his brother Vali, the rightful king of the forest-dwellers, to emerge from a cave. Behind him, the blue hero Rama hides with his brother and monkey ally Hanuman. Clutching a deadly three-pronged arrow, Rama prepares to slay Vali, so Sugriva will rise as king and be obliged to help locate Rama’s lost wife. Paintings from this series illustrate a local Himalayan Ramayana. Their distinctive style incorporates rock formations and textil...