Sita and the Sacred Monkey

A large monkey climbing a rock overlooking choppy waters draws the attention of a young woman to a ruby ring as a constrictor snake and a flying lizard seem to take interest in their debate. This picture is based on an episode of the Ramayana.

Each illustration featured in this book was printed twice: once included in the passage to which it is relevant, embellished with an elaborate border, and once plain, as part of a booklet gathered at the end of the volume, as wasn't uncommon for luxury editions of that time.

The caption reads in the original French: Bondissant au-dessus de la mer, le singe sacré communiqua le message à la belle Sita éplorée.

(Click on any high-resolution link to view the unblurred image.)