Portrait of a Vaishnava Mahant with devotees

The burnt portion of the painting, a part of the main Kartar Singh collection which got partially destroyed in a fire, indicates to the Nurpur origin where the rulers were followers of Damthal establishment, a seat of Vaishnava Mahants. This is the portrait of a Mahant of Damthal wearing the colourful gudri and the conical cap representative of the Vaishnava Mahants. He is seated on a carpet against a big bolster in the open terrace. Facing him are the devotees - an old bearded nobleman and a young royal figure who could be the ruler of Nurpur. This is a very fine painting displaying the Pahari skill of a great master.