Artwork
Folio 18 from a Chandana Malayagiri Varta (Story of King Chandana and Queen Malayagiri) of Karamachand: Ravana battles the great vulture Jatayu and defeats him by throwing stones in his mouth (recto); Jatayu approaches Rama and Lakshmana who are wond
Folio 18 from a Chandana Malayagiri Varta (Story of King Chandana and Queen Malayagiri) of Karamachand: Ravana battles the great vulture Jatayu and defeats him by throwing stones in his mouth (recto); Jatayu approaches Rama and Lakshmana who are wond is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Folio 18 from the Chandana Malayagiri Varta illustrates two episodes from the legend of Ravana’s encounter with the vulture Jatayu.
About this work
Overview
Folio 18 from the Chandana Malayagiri Varta illustrates two episodes from the legend of Ravana’s encounter with the vulture Jatayu. The upper register presents a woman in a red garment beside a bird‑like figure with wings, while the lower register shows a man in red hurling stones into the open mouth of a massive bird. Dark trees and a cloudy sky form the backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The composition narrates a moment from the Karamachand version of the Rama story, where Ravana defeats Jatayu by forcing stones into the creature’s beak. The upper scene likely depicts a preceding interaction between the queen and a divine or mythic bird, setting the emotional tone for the ensuing conflict depicted below.
Technique & Style
Rendered in a miniature manuscript style, the folio employs bold outlines and vivid pigments, especially reds and oranges that highlight the figures and surrounding flora. The ornamental border of orange blossoms frames the scenes, while the use of chiaroscuro in the trees and sky creates depth within the limited space of the page.
History & Provenance
Created as part of a 19th‑century illustrated manuscript of the Chandana Malayagiri Varta, the folio was later acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its precise origin lies within the Indian subcontinent’s tradition of courtly storytelling manuscripts, though the exact workshop or patron remains unidentified.
Context
The work belongs to a broader corpus of narrative art that visualized episodes from the Ramayana and related epics for elite audiences. Such manuscripts combined literary text with elaborate illustrations, serving both devotional and educational purposes in royal or aristocratic circles.
Artist & collection
