Under whose reign Kangra Painting style flourished ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The Kangra painting style, renowned for its delicate brushwork, lyrical beauty, and deep thematic focus on the romantic and divine love of Radha and Krishna, reached its absolute zenith—the period of its greatest flourishing—under the liberal and fervent patronage of *Maharaja Sansar Chand* of Kangra (reigned 1775–1823/1824). As a great art lover and an ardent devotee of Krishna, he commissioned over 40,000 paintings based on classical Hindu texts such as the *Gita Govinda* and the *Bhagavata Purana*. His extensive commissions and the establishment of workshops attracted a large number of highly skilled artists, securing Kangra's position as the foremost centre of the Pahari school.

The incorrect option is 1:
Balwant Singh, specifically Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota, was indeed a notable patron of Pahari painting, but his patronage relates primarily to the *early* development of the style in the Guler region, which is considered the origin of the later Kangra school. His period precedes the widespread adoption and highly refined output of the distinct Kangra style that fully flourished under Sansar Chand. The paintings commissioned by Balwant Singh are critical to the style's history, but they represent a transitionary stage rather than its peak.

The incorrect option is 2:
Bhupatpal, who was a ruler of Basohli, is not the patron associated with the Kangra style's peak. He is instead historically linked to the earlier, vibrant, and expressive Basohli school of painting. The Kangra style, in fact, rose to prominence and flourished in the late 18th century as the Basohli school was declining, indicating a shift in patronage and regional focus. Therefore, his reign does not align with the flourishing period of Kangra art.

The incorrect option is 3:
Sangram Pal, like other local rulers, may have offered minor patronage within the Pahari region, but he is not identified in art history as the pivotal figure responsible for the unprecedented flourishing of the Kangra school. The characteristic features of Kangra painting—the naturalistic depiction of landscape and human figures, the soft color palette, and the focus on Krishna themes—were perfected and mass-produced under the single, devoted patronage of Raja Sansar Chand.