Rama's Brother Pulling A Thorn From His Foot
Identification and Creation
Object Number
2011.97
Title
Rama's Brother Pulling a Thorn from His Foot
Other Titles
Series/Book Title: Illustration from the Ramayana
Classification
Albums
Work Type
album folio
Date
c. 1700-1710
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India, Pahari
Culture
Indian
Physical Descriptions
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
17.5 x 26 cm (6 7/8 x 10 1/4 in.)
Provenance
Philip Hofer [mid 20th century]. Stuart Cary Welch, Jr. Collection, New Hampshire (by 1969-2011), sold; [Sotheby’s, London, 5/31/2011, lot 54]; to Harvard Art Museums, 2011.

Notes:
This painting came to Harvard Art Museums on 1 April 1969 as temporary loan TL17444.214, and in 1983 was designated as long term loan, 440.1983.
Acquisition and Rights
Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Richard Norton Memorial Fund
Accession Year
2011
Object Number
2011.97
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Descriptions
Description
This is an unusual scene in Pahari painting of the Ramayana. The illustration depicts a tender moment in which the blue-skinned Rama, supported by two warriors, has a thorn removed from his foot by his brother. The theatrical gestures of the figures and the body pose of the main protagonist may suggest link to Christo-European scenes.

Publication History

Stuart Cary Welch and Mark Zebrowski, A Flower from Every Meadow: Indian Paintings from American Collections, exh. cat., New York Graphic SocietyNew York Graphic Society (New York, NY, 1973), Page 70/Figure 37

Exhibition History

India: From Tribe to Court, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 01/01/1981 - 01/01/1981

Out of the Hills: Miniature Painting from Himalayan India, Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 05/26/1984 - 07/08/1984

Hot as Curry - Subtle as Moonlight: Masterpieces of Rajput Painting, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/02/1991 - 12/20/1991

Recent Acquisitions, Part II: Building the Collection, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 06/19/2012 - 09/29/2012

Verification Level

2 - Adequate. Object is adequately described but information may not be vetted