Siege of Lanka by Anonymous

Siege of Lanka 1595 - 1605

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tempera, painting

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narrative-art

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tempera

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painting

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asian-art

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handmade artwork painting

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oil painting

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naive art

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islamic-art

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watercolour illustration

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history-painting

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miniature

Dimensions: 10 13/16 x 7 1/4 in. (27.46 x 18.42 cm)

Copyright: Public Domain

This vibrant painting, "Siege of Lanka," is made with opaque watercolor on paper by an anonymous artist. The artist skillfully uses watercolor to bring the epic battle to life. Opaque watercolors, with their rich pigments, create a sense of depth and texture. Notice how the artist layered colors to depict the rocky terrain and the golden city. This wasn't just a quick sketch; it involved meticulous application and skilled handiwork. The level of detail suggests the artist took great care in portraying this scene. The painting's social significance lies in its ability to convey a sense of conflict and action. The battle is depicted with a sense of dynamism, and the use of color to create a visual narrative is a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling in art. The materials, making process, and cultural context all contribute to the painting's lasting appeal.

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Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture
minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

This painting comes from a well-known, widely dispersed manuscript of one of the most important Hindu epics, the Ramayana. Probably commissioned by a sub-imperial Mughal official in northern India, and damaged by fire, it shows Rama, the epic’s blue-skinned hero and an avatar of Vishnu, standing on the right next to his brother, Lakshmana. They have arrived at the foot of the demon Ravana’s palace in Lanka to rescue Rama’s wife Sita, held captive in the golden fort in the distance. They command an army of bears and monkeys, led by the monkey king Hanuman and the bear king Jambavan, against Ravana’s demon armies. The lively, colorful rendering shows the artist’s skill in illustrating the natural world and conveying movement, particularly seen in the demons lurking behind the rocks.

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