Rama Pattabhishekha (Rama's Coronation)

This exquisite Tanjore painting embellished with gold leaf and coloured glass depicts ‘Rama Pattabhishekam’. The scene portrayed in this painting is part of the coronation of Rama, when he returned to be crowned as the king of Ayodhya, after his defeat of Ravana. To Rama’s left sits his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana. Above them is a rishi. Rama’s other brothers Bharata and Shatrughan are standing in attendance on his right, and below them are three rishis. At the bottom, Hanuman is shown reverentially touching Rama’s feet, while Sugriva, along with the Vanaras and the bear-like figure, Jambavantha can be seen on the right of Hanuman, along with some horses. Above Hanuman is Ravana’s brother depicted as a blue figure, and towards his left are his followers who transitioned to Rama’s army during the war.
There is a small hole towards the bottom right of the painting, on the face of one of the people, near the head of the elephants.