Plaque with Ramayana Scene
Unknown Artist
13th–14th century
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 12 in. (30.5 cm); W. 16 1/16 in. (40.8 cm); D. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); Wt. 26 lbs. (11.8 kg)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Indonesia (Java)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Cynthia Hazen Polsky, in honor of Professor Samuel Eilenberg, 1986
Accession Number
1986.507
Tags
About this artwork
This terracotta relief depicts a scene from the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic that narrates the adventures of Prince Rama and his quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. The plaque presents multiple figures in dynamic poses, carved in relief with attention to the narrative and expressive qualities that characterize Javanese interpretations of Hindu epics. The sculptural style demonstrates the sophisticated terracotta modeling techniques developed in medieval Java, where art...