Building the Bridge to Lanka

Building the Bridge to Lanka

Seu Family

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This scene from the epic Ramayana illustrates the heroic actions of the monkey army constructing a bridge to Lanka so that Sita could be rescued from the evil demon Ravana. The monkey army is shown hauling stones while being directed by Rama and Lakshmana, who are seated at the upper right. While the sheet is closely related to Manaku's work, the treatment of the monkeys suggests it is probably the product of his workshop.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.