Rama Shall be King?
Title
Rama Shall be King?
Date
ca. 1710
Context
India, Mewar
Medium/Dimensions
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Image: 10 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. (26.7 x 41.9 cm)
Object Number
2013.012.001
Description
It could be said that the Ramayana begins with a failure:
Rama should be king, but his rightful claim to the throne is denied.
Here king Dasharatha, having joyously resolved on the succession of his eldest son Rama, has sent the charioteer Sumantra to summon him. As is typical of Mewari style, the painting tells a sequential narrative, with individual scenes separated by architectural motifs and blocks of color. It centers on Rama’s brief chariot journey, across a sparse, stylized field, from his private but majestic home (right) to Dasharatha’s palace (left), its lofty height indicated by a short set of stairs. In the assembly, Rama, seated reverently below three brahmin advisors and the enthroned king himself, learns of his imminent coronation.
The coronation, however, will soon be interrupted by the plotting of Kaikeyi, one of Dasharatha’s three wives. Invoking two royal boons promised to her years earlier, she demands that the king banish Rama to a life of asceticism in the forest, and consecrate her son, Bharata, in his place. Bound by oath, Dasharatha complies, before dying of grief over this perversion of natural succession.
Rama should be king, but his rightful claim to the throne is denied.
Here king Dasharatha, having joyously resolved on the succession of his eldest son Rama, has sent the charioteer Sumantra to summon him. As is typical of Mewari style, the painting tells a sequential narrative, with individual scenes separated by architectural motifs and blocks of color. It centers on Rama’s brief chariot journey, across a sparse, stylized field, from his private but majestic home (right) to Dasharatha’s palace (left), its lofty height indicated by a short set of stairs. In the assembly, Rama, seated reverently below three brahmin advisors and the enthroned king himself, learns of his imminent coronation.
The coronation, however, will soon be interrupted by the plotting of Kaikeyi, one of Dasharatha’s three wives. Invoking two royal boons promised to her years earlier, she demands that the king banish Rama to a life of asceticism in the forest, and consecrate her son, Bharata, in his place. Bound by oath, Dasharatha complies, before dying of grief over this perversion of natural succession.
Credit Line
Gift of William E. Torres
Exhibits/Publications
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, April 1 - October 27, 2014
Rights
© Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University. Photo by Bruce M. White, 2015.
This image is provided by the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University, who retains all rights in it. This image is made available for limited non-commercial, educational, and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States law. For all other uses, please contact the Michael C. Carlos Museum Office of Collections Services at +1(404) 727-4282 or mccm.collections.services@emory.edu. Users must cite the author and source of the image as they would material from any printed work, but not in any way that implies endorsement of the user or the user's use of the image. Users may not remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices, including without limitation attribution information, credits, and copyright notices that have been placed on or near the image by the Museum. The Museum assumes no responsibility for royalties or fees claimed by the artist or third parties. The User agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Emory University, its Michael C. Carlos Museum, its agents, employees, faculty members, students and trustees from and against any and all claims, losses, actions, damages, expenses, and all other liabilities, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, directly or indirectly arising out of or resulting from its use of photographic images for which permission is granted hereunder.
On View
No
Citation
“Rama Shall be King?,” Michael C. Carlos Museum Collections Online, accessed December 7, 2024, https://digitalprojects.carlos.emory.edu/items/show/6847.
Embed
Copy the code below into your web page