Two of the preparatory sketches in the present lot appear to be related to known paintings from the workshop of the 19^th century Mandi court master Sajnu. The first sketch in the present lot appears to have been done in preparation for a painting from the Punjab Museum collection published by M.S. Randhawa in Kangra Valley Painting, Delhi, 1954, no. 28. The painting depicts a fire breaking out Krishna’s cowherd village. A gopa is untying the ropes to the shed to help the panicked cows escape, while family members rush down the street carrying all of their possessions over their heads. Krishna’s attention is drawn to the fire, but Radha pulls him in out of fear. The composition of the painting closely follows the sketch, with only a few minor changes, such as the items carried by the hurried villagers. The present sketch is also more architecturally complex than the final painting, perhaps pointing to an overly ambitious early planning stage.
The second sketch can be compared to a painting of Radha swooning to a Krishan’s flute by the workshop Sajnu, circa 1820-30, in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (acc. no. I.S. 30-1949). A more noticeable discrepancy can be pointed out in this example, in that the sketch lacks a brick wall separating Krishna and the women.
The third sheet here offers a rare insight into the miniature painting planning process. The page illustrates four rough compositional sketches, likely used as color studies to test the most complimentary palette.