Kulu Valley Illustration from the Ramayana: Hanuman standing at right, India, Kulu or Bahu, circa 1700-10

Opaque watercolour on paper.

The monkey and demon armies collide in a fearsome clash with the monkeys using tree branches as weapons and even their teeth to bite and injure their adversaries.

Acquired from the Royal Library of Mandi in 1969

Good overall condition. A few minor stains to green ground. minor tear to centre of bottom edge of yellow border. very minor rubbing to juncture between green ground and blue. background colour more opaque and greener in reality, unframed
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The current and following lots belong to a series of illustrations known as the 'Shangri' Ramayana after Shangri, the place of residence of the branch of the Kulu royal family formerly in possession of the largest portion of these paintings. The illustrations belong to the 'Lanka Kanda' section of the epic and portray in detail the gory clash between the monkey and demon armies. 

W. G. Archer found Kulu the most likely origin for the series but more recently B. N. Goswamy has attempted to re-attribute the Ramayana series to Bahu (Jammu), since there are three inscribed portraits of Bahu nobles in this style. However, these depictions may have been done as records of visiting dignitaries, since there are also portraits of Mankot rulers completed in a similar idiom.  Thus the final attribution of the origin for the 'Shangri' Ramayana remains problematic.  

Archer distinguishes four styles within the series and the current work is from a relatively small group in what he terms 'Style III.'  Other leaves from this series are in the National Museum, New Delhi; Bharat Kala Bhavan, Benares; British Museum; Victoria and Albert Museum and several important private collections.  Also see M. S. Randhawa, Basholi Painting, 1959, pls. 16 & 18; and W. G. Archer, Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills, 1973, vol. I, pp. 325-9 and vol. II, pls. 1-5, pp. 238-243.

For other illustrations from the same series see Sotheby's New York, April 1, 2005, lots 108 & 109; September 20, 2005, lots 125 & 126; March 29, 2006, lots 157 & 158; and September 19, 2006, lots 9 & 10.