The painting shown above is a folio of the Shangri Ramayana. Read the passage on it and answer the question.
Rama learns of his exile. Maintaining equanimity of mind, Rama indulges in his last acts of giving away his possessions. At the request of Rama, his brother piles up his belongings and the crowd begins to gather to receive the largesse of their beloved Rama — jewellery, sacrificial vessels, thousand cows and other treasures.
How does the artist achieve fine effects in this painting?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → By depicting the transparent garment, stippled beards and tilak marks
Option (1) By using shiny particles of beetle wings for the jewellery — Incorrect. Shiny particles of beetle wings are a Basohli way of showing jewellery and emeralds. They are not the fine effects named for this folio.
Option (2) By using raised white paint for pearls in the ornaments — Incorrect. Raised white paint for pearls is a Basohli feature. It is not named for this folio.
Option (3) By depicting the transparent garment, stippled beards and tilak marks — Correct. The artist shows the transparency of the garment Rama holds out, the stippled beards of the Brahmins and tilak marks.
Option (4) By a fragmentary portrayal of animals behind the trees — Incorrect. This belongs to another folio of the set, Rama and Lakshmana following sage Vishvamitra to the forest, with a wolf and a tiger half hidden behind trees.
NCERT (2026-27): “Basohli School …Set apart on the left are the two princes with Sita standing on a carpet with a crowd of recipients moving towards them. The painter carefully introduces different types — recluses, Brahmins, courtiers, commoners and servants of the royal household. …Taking pleasure in achieving fine effects, the artist delightfully depicts transparency of the garment Rama is holding out, stippled beard on the cheek and chin of the Brahmins, tilak marks, jewellery and weapons.”
Rama gives away his possessions, Ayodhya Kanda, Shangri Ramayana, 1690–1700, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA |
