Rama and the Golden Statue of Sita

Attributed to Purkhu and his workshop

Rama and the Golden Statue of Sita

19th Century

India, Kangra

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Image: 10 3/4 x 14 1/8 in.
Sheet: 13 1/4 x 16 3/4 in.

L2017.014.001

In one version of the Ramayana, after his coronation, Rama banishes Sita to the forest in response to rumors that she was unfaithful during her captivity in Lanka. In this painting, Rama performs a fire sacrifice as part of his royal duties. Since tradition holds that the sacrificer’s wife must be present, a golden statue replaces the exiled Sita. The statue highlights the dilemma of a king who must follow the proscribed ritual of sacrifice, but must also banish a potentially unfaithful wife.
The confinement of women to the private sphere on the edges of the composition also evokes conceptions of female subservience implied by the golden statue. The hierarchical organization of the male figures and architectural components infuse the central, public space with a sense of order, authority, and righteousness.
The compositional lines draw the viewer’s attention consistently back to Rama, designating his position of importance at the center. Looking closely, one can also detect traces of preliminary drawings in the white planes of the composition.

Watercolor with gilding

Watercolor with gilding

Image: 10 3/4 x 14 1/8 in.
Sheet: 13 1/4 x 16 3/4 in.