INDIA, PUNJAB HILLS, GARHWAL, CIRCA 1840

The Rukmini Haran, part of the Bhagavata Purana, is among the most popular series to be illustrated in the Garhwal court, with at least three sets known to have been produced in the 19th century. The epic tells the story of the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini, a princess betrothed to the king Shishupala, despite her longings to be with Krishna. The present scene shows Krishna departing Dwarka after Rukmini sends him a Brahmin messenger to plan an elopement. His charioteer Daruka will lead Krishna to Rukmini at Kundinapura. A procession of mounted attendants and musicians see them off.
Other pages from this series sold at Sotheby's, New York, March 29, 2006, lot 163 and September 19, 2006, lot 8, and more recently at Christie's London, 12 June 2018, lot 145 for 27,500 GBP.