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Shurpanakha demands vengeance, from the "Shangri" Ramayana

Unknown

1700

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Mughal Painting 18th Century Religious

Dominant colour

Shurpanakha demands vengeance, from the "Shangri" Ramayana is a 1700 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1700 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a dramatic scene with a demon king and his sister, who's urging him to take revenge. The scene shows a lot of action and emotion, with the sister gesturing emphatically at her brother. This painting is also interesting because it tells a story from the Ramayana, a famous Indian epic. Check out the museum where this painting is kept, The Cleveland Museum of Art.

The story of this work

Overview

In a dramatic climax, the artists introduce the demon king, Ravana (the Howler), archvillain of the Ramayana . He has 10 crowned heads and 20 arms. He grasps a different deadly weapon in each hand; they reveal his supreme powers. The demon Shurpanakha’s nose and ears are healing, but her desire for revenge is stronger than ever. She gestures emphatically at her brother Ravana, urging him to find a way to destroy Rama, perhaps by kidnapping Rama’s wife. More gold has been lavished on this painting than any other known from the “Shangri” Ramayana , suggesting that it is meant to stand out as a…