Ravana the Demon King of Lanka (Now Ceylone)

Painting

-

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Ravana the Demon King of Lanka (Now Ceylone)

Entry/Object ID

1998.09.34

Description

The painting depicts a central figure with multiple heads and arms, each arm holding different objects. The figure is adorned in bright colors, including pink and orange, with detailed outlines. The figure's many faces have expressive features, with hands raised, and the background is decorated with floral and symbolic patterns.

Type of Painting

Watercolor

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper

Subject

Ravana

Subject Person

Ravana

Subject Place

Country

Sri Lanka

Acquisition

Accession

1998.09

Source or Donor

Derek Davenport

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Derek Davenport

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1980 - circa 1990

Time Period

Late 20th century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Region

Madhubani

Country

India

Notes

Traditionally produced by women, Madhubani/Mithila paintings are identifiable by bright colors, geometric patterning, and two-dimensionality.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Attribution, Note

Location

Back Upper Left Corner

Transcription

"RAVANA" The Demon king of Lanka (now Ceylone)

Language

English

Material/Technique

Pen

Type

Note

Location

Back Bottom Right Corner

Transcription

1998.09.34 DAD

Language

English

Material/Technique

Pencil

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

30 in

Width

22 in

Provenance

Notes

Derek Davenport (1927-2017), West Lafayette, Indiana; donated to the Purdue University Galleries in 1998

Exhibition

Paintings from India: Historical and Modern (2019)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition label

Label

(From Paintings from India: Historical and Modern Reuff West Feb 11-22, 2019): Ravana typically has 10 heads (five heads are depicted here) to represent his knowledge of the 6 shastras and 4 vedas of Hindu religion. He is capable ruler, but his desire to overpower the Devas make him evil. Devas are benevolent supernatural beings who signify "the heavenly and divine." The reds, oranges and yellows painted on a blue ground bring the image to life.