A RAMA DARBAR SCENE
Mewar, Rajasthan, North-Western India, 19th century

Opaque pigments and ink heightened with gold on paper, the large vertical-format composition depicting Lord Rama's court (Rama Durbar) with Vishnu's seventh avatara enthroned and seated under a caparisoned golden parasol, his beloved Sita seated next to him, holding her hands in a form symbolising devotional offering, in front of the couple a Brahmin priest blessing the god's forehead with a ritual bindu (mark), the scene observed by other major Hindu gods like Brahma and Shiva, several Indian rulers, and a contingent of the Monkey King Sugriva's court including Hanuman, set within black and white rules, and bright red borders, pasted onto a sheet of white paper, 37.2cm x 26.7cm.