A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c15.s5.38

c15.s5.38

H.H. the Mahārāja of Benares is the fortunate owner of a beautifully written and sumptuously illustrated manuscript of the poem by Tulsī Dās, commonly called the *Rāmāyana*, but properly named the *Rāmcharit-mānas*. The book, which is guarded with jealous care, forms five volumes, richly bound in Benares brocade. The illustrations, more than five hundred in number, face each page, and are said to have cost Rs. 160,000. They appear to have been executed at some time in the eighteenth century, but are not signed. The technique generally seems to be that of the Indo-Persian school, gold and silver enrichments being freely used. The subjects, figures, faces, and composition are thoroughly Hindu. His Highness having placed at my disposal nine excellent photographs of selected pictures, three of them are now reproduced.