Drawing, Rama and Lakshman fighting Ravana with bows and arrows, in ink and colour wash on paper, Punjab Plain, late 19th century

Brush drawing, in ink and colour wash on paper, Rama and Lakshman fighting the demon Ravana with bows and arrows, while Hanuman flies through the air carrying the mountain of herbs.

Rama and Lakshman fighting the demon Ravana with bows and arrows, while Hanuman flies through the air carrying the mountain of herbs.

Given by Rudyard Kipling Esq., Bateman's, Burwash, Sussex

Part of an album, containing 196 prints, paintings and pen and pencil drawings together with 37 loose pages of paintings, calligraphic drawings, and outline pen drawings. The collection is mainly composed of native lithograph pictures sold at the local bazaars and fairs of Upper India and Bengal. The album was collected by late J Lockwood Kipling between the years 1865 and 1893. In 1875 he became Principal of the Mayo School of Art, Lahore and held this post until his retirement in 1893. The album was presented to the Museum by his son, Rudyard Kipling in 1917.

Given by Rudyard Kipling Esq., Bateman's, Burwash, Sussex. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

R.P. 1917-2627M, R.P. 1917-2705M

This painting is one of a collection of prints, paintings and drawings, some bound in an album, given to the museum by Rudyard Kipling in 1917. They were all collected about 25 years previously by Rudyard Kipling's father, J. Lockwood Kipling, when he was Director of the Lahore School of Art. Most of the collection was bought in Amritsar and Lahore, though some sheets were bought in Calcutta and Bombay. Many of the works depict popular subjects of Sikhism or, as here, Hinduism.
Rama and Lakshman are shown fighting the ten-headed Ravana with bows and arrows, while Hanuman flies through the air carrying the mountain of healing herbs that will revive Rama's army.

IM.2:210-1917