18th-19th century
The folio depicts the ritual of the “Puttatresti Yajna,” a sacrifice mentioned in the ancient Indian text of the Atharva-Veda, performed to obtain a son. In the Indian Epic Ramayana, this ritual was performed by the Sage Vasishtha and Sage Rishyasringa for King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. According to the text, on the completion of this ritual, a divine being emerged from the sacrificial fire carrying a vessel of gold, with a silver cover, filled with sacred food in his hands. This sacred food, after being eaten by the wives of the king, blessed them with children. This folio possibly belongs to a Ramayana manuscript produced in Sirohi. This manuscript is notable for its vibrant blue background, achieved through the use of the pigment Prussian blue. Other folios from the same manuscript in the Harvard Art Museums’ collections are 1973.164, 1973.165, 1973.166.A, 1973.166.B, 1973.167, 1973.168.A, 1973.168.B, 1973.169, 1973.170.A, 1973.170.B, 1973.171. Rajput, Rajasthani, Sirohi School.
21.59 x 26.04 cm (8 1/2 x 10 1/4 in.)
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
16th centuryIndianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
18th centuryOttomanInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
17th centuryPersianHandscrolls (two); ink on decorated paper with gold and silver inks
17th-18th centuryJapaneseInk and opaque watercolor on parchment
12th centuryArmenianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
16th-17th centuryPersianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
17th centuryPersianTwo-sided horizontal accordion-fold manuscript; ink and color on paper
19th centuryThaiDouble-sided, detached leaf from an incomplete manuscript: ink, color, and gold on blue paper
18th centuryNepaleseInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
13th centuryEgyptianThe twenty-seventh of a series of 54 backing sheets mounted in an album; ink and color on paper
16th centuryJapaneseHandscroll; ink on paper
13th centuryJapanese