Important Notice

The tale of Shakuntala is one that has captivated and inspired writers, poets, and artists since the inception of Indian arts and literature. Narrated in the Mahabharata, the legend begins with King Dushyanta’s encounter and immediate infatuation with Shakuntala, a maiden living in the forests, and their marriage that followed.

As the story goes, before returning to his kingdom, Dushyanta gifts his wife a personal ring as a symbol... The tale of Shakuntala is one that has captivated and inspired writers, poets, and artists since the inception of Indian arts and literature. Narrated in the Mahabharata, the legend begins with King Dushyanta’s encounter and immediate infatuation with Shakuntala, a maiden living in the forests, and their marriage that followed.

As the story goes, before returning to his kingdom, Dushyanta gifts his wife a personal ring as a symbol of his vow to bring her and their son to his palace. In his absence, Shakuntala spends much of her time daydreaming about her husband, which leads to her failing to greet the sage Durvasa on his arrival at her ashram. Enraged by her ignorance, the sage places a curse on Shakuntala causing the person consuming her thoughts to forget her entirely. Upon her apology and pleading, Durvasa sympathises and decides to ease the curse by declaring that she would be free from it if she shows the person a token of personal worth gifted by him. Set on reuniting with her lover, Shakuntala embarks on a journey to Dushyanta’s court with her father, the sage Kanva. Unfortunately, she loses Dushyanta’s ring during their voyage, which, as the narrative develops, causes her husband to not recognise her or recollect their past.

Shakuntala’s legend was a celebrated theme in Raja Ravi Varma’s oeuvre, with the artist painting numerous episodes from the tale. The same story served as a source of inspiration for his son, Rama Varma, as well. In the present lot, Rama Varma depicts a scene where Shakuntala is at the court of a bewildered King Dushyanta, crestfallen to realise that her husband no longer remembers her.

While Rama Varma refers to a tale that has been frequently visited by his father, his choice to portray a distinctly different scene from Ravi Varma’s works shows the artist expanding on the narratives highlighted by his father, Ravi Varma. This allows the viewer to appreciate his composition, style, and storytelling independently in the present lot, beyond the legacy of his father.

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