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The Monkey Leader Angada Steals Ravana's Crown from His Fortress: Folio from the Siege of Lanka series

Attributed to Manaku Indian
ca. 1725
Not on view
This scene is described in Valmiki's Ramayana: "Then [Angada] the powerful son of Bali, scaled [Ravana's] palace up to its roof . . . the impact of his bounds caused it to crumble." The great monkey warrior Angada is shown four times: leaping over the ramparts and casting down demons, stealing Ravana's crown, flying though the air to return to Rama's camp, and attending the crowning of Vibhishana, the rightful ruler of Lanka. The recovery of the crown does not feature in the Ramayana text and appears to have been invented by the artist to give visual authority to Rama, seen here fulfilling his divine mission to restore virtuous rule to the world. This Ramayana series was never finished. In this folio the color had been blocked in but details are lacking; other folios from the series exist only as ink-brush drawings.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Monkey Leader Angada Steals Ravana's Crown from His Fortress: Folio from the Siege of Lanka series
  • Artist: Attributed to Manaku (Indian, active ca. 1725–60)
  • Date: ca. 1725
  • Culture: India, Punjab Hills, kingdom of Guler
  • Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
  • Dimensions: 22 5/16 x 33 in. (56.7 x 83.8 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919
  • Object Number: 19.24.2
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Hiranyakashipu commands his demon warriors to threaten and injure Prahlada. Preparatory drawing from the ‘Small Bhagavata Purana’ Series, Manaku Indian, Brush drawing on paper, India, Guler, Himachal Pradesh
Hiranyakashipu commands his demon warriors to threaten and injure Prahlada. Preparatory drawing from the ‘Small Bhagavata Purana’ Series
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South Wind Cools in the Himalayas: Folio from a Gita Govinda Series, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
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South Wind Cools in the Himalayas: Folio from a Gita Govinda Series
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The Meeting of the Eyes, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
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The Meeting of the Eyes
Manaku
ca. 1750
Battle of the Kauravas and Srinjayas: Folio from a Bhagavata Purana Series, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
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Battle of the Kauravas and Srinjayas: Folio from a Bhagavata Purana Series
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Krishna Playing Blindman's Bluff, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
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Krishna Playing Blindman's Bluff
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