Rama and Lakshmana on Mount Pavarasana Folio from the Shangri Ramayana series (Style II) ca. 1690–1710 India. Punjab Hills, kingdom of Jammu (Bahu)

 

Rama and Lakshmana on Mount Pavarasana Folio from the Shangri Ramayana series (Style II) ca. 1690–1710  India. Punjab Hills, kingdom of Jammu (Bahu)

Rama is shown with his brother at the summit of Mount Pavarasana passing a sleepless night after searching in vain for his wife, Sita, who has been abducted by the demon Ravana. Her fate is as yet unknown to Rama,so his fear has not yet turned to anger. The Ramayana emphasizes the vast territory they have covered and the desperate nature of their search, suggested by the featureless expanse leading to the curving horizon, marked by a silver moon. This painting belongs to the Shangri Ramayana series, which is associated with a number of Punjab court styles, suggesting that it was the product of itinerant artists who worked for a number of patrons in the region. This folio is most closely associated with the atelier at Mandi, known for its simple but compelling compositions.