An Illustration to a Ramayana Series: Rama, Lakshmana and Sita at the Hermitage of Rishi Bharadvaja, India, Kangra, circa 1820

The illustration depicts Rama, Lakshmana and Sita seated before sage Bharadvaja and other rishis in their forest dwelling. The trio have embarked upon their long, fourteen-year exile and have stopped at the hermitage to rest. They are being served a simple meal of fruits with great affection and hospitality. The landscape is idyllic with gently-sloping hills supporting lush vegetation. A plethora of wildlife abounds in the tranquil surroundings with peacock, wild boar, antelope and deer coexisting amicably. Indeed the atmosphere is suffused with such serenity that even a tiger and jackal gaze at each other peacefully on a far hillock on the upper left. According to the Epic, the sage advised the trio to retreat to the safety of the nearby Chitrakuta mountains, a sacred space frequented by hermits, where they could seek shelter for the duration of their exile.   

Illustrations depicting episodes from the Vanaprastha or exile of Rama were painted with great care and emotive appeal by the artists of the Kangra ateliers who drew inspiration from the beauty of their own environment. See Replica Shoes ’s London, 23rd October 2019, lot 195 for a depiction of the trio of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana beginning their exile. The scene is set in a similar, lush forest setting with gentle hills and rolling valleys. For another illustration detailing the very same episode as our painting, where the trio are conversing with the revered sage, see Replica Shoes ’s London, 8th October 2014, lot 320, also featuring a tranquil, verdant backdrop.