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Lot Essay
This illustration belongs to a known, unfinished Bhagavata Purana series that has been estimated to comprise hundreds of paintings and drawings. The drawings exhibit the same energy and vitality that is evident in the finished paintings from this series. Manaku must have taken years to finish the work and would most certainly have had assistance from other artists in his workshop.
For other comparable drawings, see B.N. Goswamy and E. Fischer, Pahari Masters: Court Painters of Northern India, Museum Rietberg, Zurich, 1992, nos. 109-110, pp. 262-263; J. Seyller & J. Mittal, Pahari Drawings in the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art, Hyderabad, 2013, nos. 11-14, pp. 38-47. The series is also extensively published and discussed by B.N. Goswamy in Manaku of Guler: The Life and Work of another great Indian Painter from a Small Hill State, New Delhi, 2017, pp. 223-263 and 451-499, nos. C83-103 and B167-307. Three drawing from this series from the Stuart Carey Welch Collection sold at Sotheby's London, 31 May 2011, lots 60-62. Two drawings from this series from the Collection of Paul F. Walter sold at Christie's New York, 26-27 September 2017, lot 220 for $30,000. Another drawing from this series is offered as the previous lot; also see lot 376 for a finished painting from this series.
For other comparable drawings, see B.N. Goswamy and E. Fischer, Pahari Masters: Court Painters of Northern India, Museum Rietberg, Zurich, 1992, nos. 109-110, pp. 262-263; J. Seyller & J. Mittal, Pahari Drawings in the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art, Hyderabad, 2013, nos. 11-14, pp. 38-47. The series is also extensively published and discussed by B.N. Goswamy in Manaku of Guler: The Life and Work of another great Indian Painter from a Small Hill State, New Delhi, 2017, pp. 223-263 and 451-499, nos. C83-103 and B167-307. Three drawing from this series from the Stuart Carey Welch Collection sold at Sotheby's London, 31 May 2011, lots 60-62. Two drawings from this series from the Collection of Paul F. Walter sold at Christie's New York, 26-27 September 2017, lot 220 for $30,000. Another drawing from this series is offered as the previous lot; also see lot 376 for a finished painting from this series.