Rama and Lakshmana as Boys Assist the Sage Vishvamitra: Folio from a dispersed Ramayana series
Workshop active in the First generation after Nainsukh Indian
Not on view
In the central scene, Vishvamitra asks King Dasaratha if his young sons Rama and Lakshmana can help rid the forests of the demons Marichi and Subahu who have been interrupting his ritual practices by defiling his sacrificial altar with flesh and blood. After much debate, the king agrees, and the brothers are seen departing through a gateway with Vishvamitra at lower right and again in a distant pavilion at upper right. This event sets the stage for Rama’s later interactions with ascetics in the forest and anticipates the many battles with demons that punctuate the story. This painting is one of the great products of the Kangra court workshop, characterized by a muted palette juxtaposed with brilliant colors, daring spatial arrangements, and multiple perspectives.
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