Lot 123
AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A RAMAYANA SERIES: MONKEYS DEVASTATING THE MADHUVANA GROVE FILLING THEMSELVES WITH FRUIT AND HONEY BEFORE RETURNING TO RAMA
INDIA, PUNJAB HILLS, CHAMBA, CIRCA 1800-1810
Auction: 09 December 2026 from 14:00 GMT
Description
gouache on paper heightened by gold, depicting Lord Rama in the top right hand corner with Lakshmana and Sugriva, in front of him Hanuman and the monkey army make apology for the devastation they have caused, the picture is divided in two by pink hued rocks allowing a separate scene in the bottom left hand corner to convey the monkey army enjoying the fruits of the grove
Dimensions
26.8cm x 36.5cm
Provenance
The collection of Dr Alma Latifi, CIE, OBE (1879-1959).
Simon Ray, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, November 2017, no. 47.
Exhibited: The Art of India and Pakistan, Royal Academy, London, 1947-48.
Footnote
This painting is part of a set of fifteen paintings that sequentially portray the narrative of the Sundara Kanda, the fifth book of the Ramayana, known as the "Beautiful Book". Nine paintings from the group were included in Simon Ray's 2017 catalogue.
After Hanuman's victorious return from Lanka, he and the monkey heroes hasten to the celestial grove of Madhuvana, where, overcome with joy at the success of their mission, they gorge themselves on fruit and honey and lay waste to the grove, as depicted on the left. Dadhimukha, the grove's guardian, complains to Sugriva, but the monkeys' exuberance immediately reveals that Sita has been found. Summoned back, they appear before Rama, who rewards Hanuman with a necklace in recognition of his achievements, a scene shown in the upper right of the painting.