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Lot Essay
Purkhu was the head of a very large and important atelier attached to the court of Maharaja Sansar Chand of Kangra. He is best known for his royal portraits and parade scenes. Purkhu worked closely with his brothers and later his own children. He seems to have been active from around circa 1780 until circa 1820. This present miniature typifies the style of Purkhu in its soft colour palette with the figures delicately outlined in purple, ( B. Goswamy and E. Fischer, Pahari Masters, Zurich, 1992, p. 370.)
Gobind Chand of Datapur is depicted with an identifying inscription in Persian in a further miniature attributed to Purkhu and dated to circa 1803. This comparable miniature depicts Gobind Chand at the court of Purkhu's patron Sansar Chand, the Maharaja of Kangra, (M. Beach, E. Fischer and B. Goswamy (eds.), Masters of Indian Painting vol. II, Zurich, 2011, fig. 2, p. 723). In 1809 Maharaja Sansar Chand was defeated by the Sikh Army of Ranjit Singh and was forced to give up control of Kangra. Our present miniature probably dates from the period when the court was still in situ at Kangra.
Gobind Chand of Datapur is depicted with an identifying inscription in Persian in a further miniature attributed to Purkhu and dated to circa 1803. This comparable miniature depicts Gobind Chand at the court of Purkhu's patron Sansar Chand, the Maharaja of Kangra, (M. Beach, E. Fischer and B. Goswamy (eds.), Masters of Indian Painting vol. II, Zurich, 2011, fig. 2, p. 723). In 1809 Maharaja Sansar Chand was defeated by the Sikh Army of Ranjit Singh and was forced to give up control of Kangra. Our present miniature probably dates from the period when the court was still in situ at Kangra.