Artifact
Portraits claimed to date from the Gurus' lifetimes
also Sur Singh portraits of Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, National Museum portrait of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
A small group of paintings that some scholars believe may have been made in a Guru's lifetime. This is not established.[Mann]
- Date
- Seventeenth century, as claimed
- Held by
- Various: the seat of Bidhi Chand at Sur Singh, the National Museum, New Delhi, Takht Patna Sahib, and private owners
- Location
- Punjab, New Delhi and Patna
- Provenance
- Attributed
- Status: Held
- All locations are from Mann (2008). No catalogue records for these paintings were found.
Mann says two portraits of Sri Guru Hargobind Ji are at Sur Singh, that a National Museum portrait labelled with the name of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was seemingly made at Mandi in the late 1690s, and that one at Patna is believed to be from Guru Ji's lifetime.
Mann also says more research is needed before the question can be settled.
What is disputed
- Are any of these true portraits?
Mann thinks some have survived. This site follows the wider caution that no portrait from a Guru's lifetime is established and does not treat any as a likeness.[Mann]
One of two paintings pasted into the Anandpur manuscript, showing Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji enthroned with an attendant, dated to the 1690s or early 1700s. Mann thinks artists at Anandpur made it. That it is a true likeness is not established.
Unknown painter, 1690s or early 1700s, disputed. Private collection (per Mann, 2008). Public domain. Source
A painting of Sri Guru Hargobind Ji in a provincial Mughal style, dated to the mid 1600s, around or just after Guru Ji's lifetime. Commons calls it contemporary, but this is not established, so treat it as an artist's imagining.
Unknown, Mid 17th century. Seattle Art Museum, 44.44 (as credited on Commons). Public domain. Source
