Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra Celebrates the Spring Festival of Holi

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Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra Celebrates the Spring Festival of Holi

c. 1800

Attributed to Purkhu of Kangra (Indian)

A powerful Panjab Hills ruler and patron of painters, Sansar Chand (ruled 1775-1825) was described by a British contemporary as imposing, dark skinned, and fine featured. In this portrait, Sansar Chand dominates the center of the court, the only participant smoking a huqqa. Behind him his son, Anirudh Chand, is nearly as large in scale, while all the other figures diminish according to their courtly rank. The event depicted is the lively spring harvest festival of Holi, celebrated by participants throwing brightly colored powder at one another. Usually a rowdy time, the courtiers here gaze forward and sedately remove handfuls of powder from small pink sacks as a group of equally controlled women dance before them.

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Object Details

Title:

Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra Celebrates the Spring Festival of Holi

Date:

c. 1800

Artist:

Attributed to Purkhu of Kangra (Indian)

Medium:

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Dimensions:

Image: 13 13/16 × 17 5/8 inches (35.1 × 44.8 cm) Sheet: 14 5/8 × 18 9/16 inches (37.1 × 47.1 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Purchased with the John T. Morris Fund, 1955

Accession Number:

1955-11-4

Geography:

Made in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

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