Artwork

The Monkeys and Bears Fight Ravana and His Demons (verso), from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (Indian, died 1740)

The Monkeys and Bears Fight Ravana and His Demons (verso), from a Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati of Upendra Bhanja (Indian, died 1740) is an unspecified painting by the Indian Miniature artist Unknown. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1979.21.b
Credit line: Edward L. Whittemore Fund

About this work

Overview

This 18th-century palm-leaf painting depicts a battle scene from a romance manuscript, featuring Ravana and his demons against an army of monkeys and bears.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates a pivotal episode from the narrative, retelling the epic conflict between Ravana, a ten-headed multi-armed demon, and Rama's animal allies, who wield tree branches and clods of earth.

Technique & Style

The image was created by incising lines into the palm leaf with a stylus, then applying charcoal, which remained in the grooves, producing a black-line drawing.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of a manuscript attributed to Upendra Bhanja, an Indian poet who died in 1740, and is likely from eastern India, possibly the region of Odisha.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

Continue through works from the same source collection.