King Dasharatha sends his chief minister Sumantra to summon Rama, from the "Shangri" Ramayana
Unknown Artist
c. 1700–1725
Medium
Gum tempera and ink on paper
Dimensions
page: 22.5 × 32.7 cm · 40.6 × 50.8 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Norman Zaworski in honor of Sherman and Ruth Lee
Accession Number
1996.361
About this artwork
Seated upon a golden stool before her husband, Queen Kaushalya agrees that the time has come for him to retire and their son Rama to be crowned king of Ayodhya. King Dasharatha gestures to his minister to fetch Rama so they can give him the news of their decision. The scene takes place in the private apartments of the palace, guarded by a stern staff-bearer at the door. In the top margin, the number “18” is written in Takri, the regional script used in the western Himalayas.