The Personal Collection of Prince & Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan
“A Gathering during Holi” is a work by the esteemed Company era painter, Sewak Ram, one of the most prominent and influential painters of the Patna school of painting. The work is similar to Sewak Ram’s numerous paintings that depict lively religious festivities and gatherings. Here, we see a lively scene of Holi occurring inside a house, likely of a ruler or a noble. We see some noblemen sitting down chatting with each other, some smoking a hookah, and many of them playing holi by spraying coloured water around at women, standing in the center, recoiling in mock protest. We see some servants also present, some with pichkaris to use for holi, some with powdered colour, and some playing music. Overall, the scene is exceptionally joyous and cheery, with everyone present in a scene of great merriment. Sewak Ram matches the vibrancy of Holi by using a vibrant colour palette in the work. Multiple elements are used to add colour to the work, such as the noblemen wearing turbans and shawls of orange, yellow, and deep blue. The women are also dressed exceptionally well, with well coloured clothing of beautiful colours such as yellow, blue, purple, etc. each also with unique and varied patterns. The white of the durbar hall where the festivities are occurring also heightens this colour. The ornaments worn by the people, golden coloured pichkaris and water vessels, yellow and blue hookahs, and orange ladoos present in the scene also adds to the vibrancy of the scene. Thus, Sewak Ram is able to craft a gorgeous and eyecatching scene of Holi.
This is a fine example of the Patna School of painting from the Company period. The artwork depicts a lively Holi celebration within a spacious courtyard framed by elegant Mughal-style arches. Men and women gather in groups, singing, dancing, and playing music, while others enjoy refreshments and prepare colours for the festivities. The figures are rendered with delicate brushwork, naturalistic proportions, and subdued colours characteristic of the Patna style. Rather than glorifying royalty, the painting celebrates everyday social and cultural life, offering a vivid record of nineteenth-century Indian customs, communal harmony, and festive traditions.
