ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Monkey Prince Angada delivers Rama’s message to Ravana; folio from the Siege of Lanka series

Manaku Indian
ca. 1725
Not on view
Although unfinished, this remarkable work from the series known as the Siege of Lanka has all the grandeur for which that suite of paintings is renowned. Likely commissioned by Dalop Singh (r. 1695–1741), it is attributed to the Guler artist Manaku, who belonged to the most famous lineage of painters of his age. The series illustrates Rama’s siege of Ravana’s palace on Lanka to secure the release of Rama’s wife Sita, as recounted in book six of the Ramayana. We see Rama and his half-brother Lakshmana, together with the general Vibhishana, who commands the armies of bears and monkeys, assembled on a hillside overlooking Ravana’s golden palace. Relevant passages of text are written in ink on the reverse to facilitate narration of the epic by the storyteller.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Monkey Prince Angada delivers Rama’s message to Ravana; folio from the Siege of Lanka series
  • Artist: Manaku (Indian, active ca. 1725–60)
  • Date: ca. 1725
  • Culture: India, Himachal Pradesh, Guler
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 23 5/8 × 32 1/2 in. (60 × 82.5 cm)
    Framed: 29 1/8 × 38 3/4 × 1 1/8 in. (74 × 98.4 × 2.9 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, by exchange, 2022
  • Object Number: 2022.246
  • Rights and Reproduction: Image © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
South Wind Cools in the Himalayas: Folio from a Gita Govinda Series, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
Returned to lender
South Wind Cools in the Himalayas: Folio from a Gita Govinda Series
Manaku
dated 1730
The Meeting of the Eyes, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
Returned to lender
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)
Returned to lender
Battle of the Kauravas and Srinjayas: Folio from a Bhagavata Purana Series
Manaku
ca. 1740
Krishna Playing Blindman's Bluff, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
Returned to lender
Krishna Playing Blindman's Bluff
Manaku
ca. 1750–55
Varaha and Hiranyaksha: Folio from a Bhagavata Purana Series, Manaku Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Guler, Himachal Pradesh)
Returned to lender
Varaha and Hiranyaksha: Folio from a Bhagavata Purana Series
Manaku
ca. 1740

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.