Page 143 - September 20th 2021, Indian and Himalayan Art Christie's NYC

461
AN ILLUSTRATION TO A MAHABHARATA
SERIES: VIDURA CONFERS WITH
DHRITHARASHTRA
INDIA, PAHARI HILLS, ATTRIBUTED TO PURKHU,
CIRCA 1820
Image 12√ x 18 in. (32.7 x 45.7 cm.)
$40,000-60,000

Owing to the patronage of Maharaja Sansar Chand (r.
1775-1823) and the artistic direction of Purkhu (active
c. 1780-c.1820), Kangra is remembered as a great
center of Pahari miniature painting. A skilled portrait
artist, Purkhu is lauded for his distinguished and
individualized portraits within his works, often noted
for veering towards journalistic goals over idealized
or fantastical qualities. His works documenting the
public and private life of Sansar Chand are thus
unsurprisingly rigorous in their attention to detail, and
one can assume, loyalty to accuracy. Notwithstanding,
Purkhu’s works on religious themes have proved his
capability for innovation and passion, creating large
series on the Harivamsa, Shiva Purana, Ramayana,
Kedara Kalpa, Gita Govinda, and the present
Mahabharata series.

This panoramic illustration depicts the blind King of
Hastinapur, Dhristarashtra conferring with Vidura,
the highest advisor of the Pandavas. The rival
Kauravas and Pandavas congregate with weapons
at the ready, each character identified by a faint
Devanagari inscription. In many narrative paintings
ascribed to Purkhu and his workshop, diagonals are
employed freely in the composition and architecture
is a dominant characteristic. Such is the case with
the present painting, where several balconies and
terraces, walls and connecting courtyards appear,
peopled with multiple figures.

An illustration from Purkhu’s Gita Govinda series
sold at Christie’s New York, 17 March 2021, lot 436
for $575,000. For further biography on Purkhu and
discussion of his works, see B.N. Goswamy and E.
Fischer, Pahari Masters, New Delhi, 2009 (reprint),
pp. 368-387.