Collection of Dr. ꧋William K. Ehrenꦡfeld (1934-2005), San Francisco.

Acquired directly frꩲom the Ehrenfeld collection by the current owner, 8th December 1988.

W. G. Archer, Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting,

London and New York, 1973, Vol. I, pp. ꦫ280-81 and Vol 🦂II, p. 194.

Daniel Ehnbom, Indian Miniatures: The Ehrenfeld Collection, New York, 1985, cat. no. 114.

Indian Miniatures from the Ehrenfeld Collection, The American Federation of the Arts, New York

September 1985 - March 1988.

The two rulers, Maharaja Ghamand Ch𒆙and of Kangra and Maharaja Devi Chand of Bilaspur, political allies and interrelated by marriage - sit facing each other on a carpeted terrace and smoking hukkahs.

They are accompanied by attendants and courtiers - with two waving morchals (ceremonial fans)꧋ and two ministers stand🌳ing below. Behind them the flat gold-brownish landscape curves upwards to a strip of blue cloudy sky edged with a vermilion sunset.

Our superb double portrait is executed in a Mughal-influenced naturalistic style which seems to have emerged fully-formed in Kangra around the middle of the Eightee♊nth century. Realistic portraits such as the present example were almost certainly influenced by the artist Nainsukh of Guler and his school - a style which was rapidly gaining in popularity across the Punjab Hills in the mid 18th century.