An illustration from the Hamir Hath

Details

An illustration from the Hamir Hath
probably Guler, early 19th century

gouache heightened with gold on paper, while tents are still being taken down and packed onto camels and elephants behind him, a noble starts to leave the camp on his richly caparisoned elephant, around him his retinue and guard also prepare to leave on variously coloured horses, on a rocky outcrop above the rolling plain can be seen the walled white fort of Ranthambor and its inhabitants, black border with gold and white flowering vine, (excellent condition) on red spotted leaf, verso with braj inscription, framed and glazed
miniature 8 x 11¼in. (20.4 x 28.6cm.)

Lot Essay

The Hamir Hath is a Hindi ballad describing the siege of Raja Hamir Dev in the fort of Ranthambor by Sultan 'Ala al-Din Khilji and his death from an arrow. It has possible relevence to Guler as an allegory of the seige of the tyrant, Sansa Chand of Kangra, by the Gurka invasion in 1805 in the great castle at Kangra.
It is not clear whether the illustration shows Hamir or 'Ala al-Din leaving Ranthambor, but it is more likely to be the latter.

Archer, W.G.: Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills, London 1973, vol.1, p.162 and vol.2, p.116

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