Rama and Lakshman with the sage Vishvamitra, from a Ramayana

Object Details

• Artist

  Attributed to the Master of Style II of the ‘Shangri’ Ramayana

• School/Tradition

  Kulu school

• Description

  The scene takes place outside Ayodhya, in the uncultivated forest zone where ascetics dwell. The boys raise their hands respectfully as they listen to the divine sage Vishvamitra, who has brought them to the forest zone in order to kill the demons who disturb holy men. Vishvamitra wears an animal skin over one shoulder and carries a water pot (kundika). With their bows and arrows slung across their bodies, the brothers have long wavy sideburns, large lotus-shaped eyes, and richly colored jamas. All three figures bear red Vaishnava tilaks (forehead marks). The landscape is a glowing field of golden yellow, sandwiched between a thin strip of cloudy sky and a narrow band of tufted grass. A deep maroon river borders the foreground. With its shaggy tufts of dark green, the tree is made marvelous by a vine of absolutely massive fig leaves.

• Inscriptions

  Inscribed on the reverse in Nagari: Bala; and the numeral 47 in nagari and takri script.

• Provenance

  Raja Raghbir Singh, Shangri, Kullu Valley, India.

  To 1964

  Ray E. Lewis (1923-2005), San Francisco, California. [1]

  From 1964 to 2001

  Ralph Benkaim (1914-2001), Beverly Hills, California, purchased from Ray E. Lewis. [2]

  From 2001 to 2018

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, by inheritance from Ralph Benkaim in 2001. [3]

  From 2018

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim. [4]

  [1] Ralph Benkaim purchased the painting in December 1964 from R.E. Lewis Gallery of San Francisco, eight years before Indian paintings were classified as antiquities by the Indian government. This according to his personal records via Catherine Glynn Benkaim.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] See Acquisition Justification Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Raja Raghbir Singh

  R. E. Lewis, Inc. (active 1952-1999)

  Ralph and Catherine Benkaim

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim

• Origin

  Bahu or Jammu, Himachal Pradesh state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1690s, 1670s

• Name

  Singh, Raghbir, Benkaim, Ralph and Catherine, Benkaim, Catherine Glynn, R. E. Lewis, Inc.

• Place

  Bahu, Himachal Pradesh state, Jammu, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Ramayana, Art, Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Vishvamitra

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings