Page 40 - 2019 September 11th Christie's New York Chiense Art Himalayan bronzes and art

THE PROPERTY OF DOROTHY AND RICHARD SHERWOOD

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AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BHAGAVATA PURANA SERIES
ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILY OF NAINSUKH, INDIA, GULER OR
BASOHLI, CIRCA 1760-1770
Image 11 x 15 in. (27.8 x 38.1 cm.); folio 16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.4 cm.)

$40,000-60,000

This illustration is from Book Ten, canto fifty-two, of the Bhagavata Purana and
relates to the syavamvara, the practice of choosing a husband, by Rukmani.
The illustration likely depicts Rukmani’s brother’s Rukma (or Rukmi) seated
with his father, Bhishmaka, the king of Vidarbha, discussing the marriage of
his sister. Rukmani (and her parents) were keen for her to marry Krishna but
Rukma wanted her to marry his friend, Shishupala. Subsequently, Rukmani
writes to Krishna to ask him to come and rescue her.
This painting is from a large series which W.G. Archer referred to as
the “Large” Guler-Basohli Bhagavata Purana series or the “Fifth” Basohli
Bhagavata Purana series of 1760-70 (W.G. Archer, Indian Paintings from the
Punjab Hills, 1973, Vol. I, pg. 28).
The composition of the illustrations and the style of painting exhibit a strong
dependence and awareness of the work of Manaku and Nainsukh, sons
of Pandit Seu, and the most renowned Pahari astists of this period. B.N.
Goswamy and Eberhard Fischer note that the series is often attributed to
Manaku’s son, Fattu, who was taught by his father.

The majority of this set was sold at Sotheby’s London in February 1960 from
the collection of Mrs. F.C. Smith. It is now widely dispersed among various
public and private collections.

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