An illustration from a Ramayana series, depicting the victory of Rama over Ravana, with celestial rejoicing and earthly homage to him Kangra or Guler, attributed to Purkhu and his workshop, circa 1800-20An illustration from a Ramayana series, depicting the victory of Rama over Ravana, with celestial rejoicing and earthly homage to him Kangra or Guler, attributed to Purkhu and his workshop, circa 1800-20gouache and gold on paper, blue gold-decorated border 290 x 375 mm.ProvenancePrivate UK collection.The painting depicts the moment when Rama is honoured by both earth and heaven, namely chapter 108 of the Yudda Kanda, or Book of War (Book VI). Rama stands triumphantly in Indra's celestial chariot beside his charioteer Matali. He holds up the Brahma-weapon, which he has just used to kill Ravana (and which magically returned to him) - the moment captured in another painting in this sale (lot 138). In the sky can be seen Indra on his elephant mount and celestial beings playing drums and sounding trumpets. Flowers rain down on Rama. The monkey army (again carrying the Dunsinane tree trunks seen in lot 138) see off the stragglers of the demon army, and begin to occupy the fortress of Lanka (one monkey is seen at a turret window already freeing Sita).A Kangra artist at the court of Maharaja Sansar Chand, Purkhu was active between circa 1780 and 1820 and had a large workshop of pupils. Although there are no known works signed by Purkhu, a number of extensive large-sized series, including the Harivamsa, have been associated with him and his family. For a list of works attributed to the family workshop of Purkhu, see M. C. Beach, E. Fischer, B. N. Goswamy (edd.), Masters of Indian Painting 1650-1900, Zurich 2011, pp. 720-721.A Ramayana painting (depicting Narada teaching), perhaps from the same series, attributed to Purkhu, Kangra, circa 1810-15, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (search no. 76074).For another Ramayana scene portraying the subject of gods and celestials in celebration at Rama and Sita's return, attributed to Mandi, circa 1820, see Christie's, New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, 21st March 2007, lot 357.For a work in a similar style see B. N. Goswamy and E. Fischer, Pahari Masters, 1991, no. 164 (from a Harivamsa series, circa 1800-15, attributed to Purkhu). See also: Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 19th April 2007, lot 340 (from a Harivamsa series); Sotheby's New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Works of Art, 19th March 2008, lots 209-216 (from Harivamsa and Mahabharata series); Simon Ray, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, April 2006, no. 74; Francesca Galloway, The Divine and the Profane, London 2012, no. 7; Sotheby's NY, 20th September, 2005, lots 110-112; Sotheby's NY, 19th September 2006, lots 15-18; M. Brand, The Vision of Kings, National Gallery of Australia, 1995, no. 21; Subash Kapoor, Art of the Past, September 2007, no. 9.