Rama and Lakshmana Overwhelmed by Arrows - Manaku

A preparatory ink drawing by the Pahari artist Manaku, depicting a dramatic scene from the Ramayana where Rama and Lakshmana are struck by arrows.

This drawing is a preparatory study for a larger, finished painting from the Siege of Lanka series, a narrative cycle depicting the final battle of the Ramayana. Attributed to the Pahari artist Manaku, who was active in the Guler region of northern India during the early 18th century, the work demonstrates the meticulous planning required for complex manuscript illustrations. The composition focuses on the central figures of Rama and Lakshmana, who are shown incapacitated and encased within a dense thicket of arrows. This dramatic moment of the epic is contrasted by the surrounding assembly of monkeys, the vanara army, who watch the scene with varied postures of concern and anticipation.

The artist employs a fine, calligraphic line to define the forms, prioritising clarity of narrative over colour or shading. The figures of the monkeys are arranged in a rhythmic, repetitive pattern that fills the pictorial space, creating a sense of a vast, crowded gathering. The drawing reveals the artist's process, showing how individual figures were sketched to establish the overall balance of the scene before the application of pigments. The sparse use of detail in the background allows the viewer to focus on the emotional weight of the central event. This work provides insight into the technical practices of the Pahari school, where preparatory drawings were essential for maintaining consistency across extensive narrative series. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting its status as a significant example of Indian courtly art from the period.