Ramayana – Indian Miniature Art from the National Museum New Delhi
‘Ramayana, Indian Miniature Art from the National Museum, New Delhi’ offers an opportunity to savour the art of the miniature at The Cinquantenaire Museum, Brussels until 18th May 2014. The exhibition consists of 101 miniatures from the collection of the National Museum. Together, these illustrate the entire story and provide a review of the major schools that, between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, worked the Ramayana into their imagery.
The Ramayana is one of the classic Hindu epics of India- a story of courage, loyalty, friendship and justice with deep religious significance which has been a great source of inspiration for artists throughout the centuries. Originally written in Sanskrit by the poet Valmiki more than two thousand years ago, the Ramayana tells of the many adventures and ordeals endured by the Rama during his fourteen years of exile. Banished to the forest, a long and laborious search for his beloved wife Sita who has been abducted by the cunning ten-headed demon king Ravana ensues, with help from his half-brother Lakshmana and an army of monkeys led by the monkey general Hanuman. Many Indians see the hero Rama as a deity and still venerate him as one of the ten reincarnations of the god Vishnu.
The epic was a favourite theme among Rajasthani and Pahari painters and in 1588 a Persian transcription was commissioned by the Emperor Akbar along with a series of miniatures depicting the tale by artists of the Mughal court. These, along with other great Indian examples are shown in this exhibition and display great mastery in the unique technique of miniature painting.
The portrait of Rama
Basohli style, Pahari, c. 1730
Paper, 14.8 cm x 10.2 cm
Sage Narada meets sage Valmiki in his hermitage and requests he writes the story of Rama
Kangra style, Pahari, early 19th century
Paper, 40.6 x 55.7 cm
Celebration in Ayodhya :
The Birth of Rama and his three brothers
Malwa style, Central India, ca. 1650-60
Paper, 18.6 x 25.3 cm
Rama and his brothers enjoying their food in the company of Raja Dasharatha and his three queens in the palace of Ayodhya
Kotah style, Rajasthan, late 18th century
Paper, 28.5 x 22 cm
Bharata returning to Ayodhya with Rama’s padukas (sandals)
Based on the story of Adhyatma Ramayana
Jaipur-Datia mixed style, Rajasthan, mid 18th century
Artist: Guman
Paper 30.5 x 41 cm
The abduction of Sita by Ravana from Panchavati and the bird Jatayu who tries to save her
Chamba style, Pahari, late 18th century
Paper, 23 x 33.8 cm
Ravana proposes Sita for marriage in Asoka Vatika. Sita denies and warns him of the serious consequences
Kangra style, Pahari, early 19th century
Paper, 20.2 x 27.6 cm
Hanuman carrying Mount Dron with Sanjivini herbs
Raghogarh style, Central India, late 18th century
Paper, 27.5 x 16.5 cm
The battle between Rama and Ravana
Guler style, Pahari, ca. 1780
Paper, 22.8 x 15.7 cm
Rama going in a procession for his coronation
Mandi style, Pahari, ca. 1800
Paper, 33 x 23,7 cm
Rama Durbar
Jaipur style, Rajasthan, mid 19th century
Paper, 42 x 31.8 cm
The coronation of Rama by sage Vashishtha
Jodhpur style, Rajasthan, early 19th century
Paper, 33.6 x 24.7 cm
Bharata comes to meet Rama at Chitrakuta with his mothers. Rama faints after hearing the sad demise of his father Raja Dasharatha
Based on the story of Adhyatma Ramayana
Jaipur-Datia mixed style, Rajasthan, mid 18th century
Artist: Guman
Paper, 31.5 x 41.8 cm
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