A Bengali Man Seated in a Chair
A Bengali Man Seated in a Chair Jaipur, 1860-80 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 18.5 x 12.4 cm Folio: 21.3 x 15.7 cm A Bengali man is shown seated in a European style wooden chair with a red shawl draped around his shoulders. His turban is of a sort that was considered fashionable […]
Raja Shamsher Prakash
Raja Shamsher Prakash (1846, r. 1856-1898) with His Wife and Child Simur, 1869 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 20 x 24 cm Folio: 26.4 x 30.2 cm The eerily symmetric interior and border decoration featured in this composition create the perfect frame for the three subjects of this elegant family portrait. The man, […]
Mian Kishan Singh of Reh
Mian Kishan Singh of Reh (r. 1859-1879) By Phagu, Nurpur or Reh, 1860 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 17.5 x 12.8 cm Folio: 23.1 x 17.5 cm Inscription: (front) shri mian sahib sri kishan singh ji tasveer hai ji. Chitere Phagu likhi ra hai ji shubh karam. Translation: This is the portrait of […]
Shah Jahan Begum of Bhopal
Shah Jahan Begum of Bhopal (r.1844-60, 1868-1901) Lucknow, 1860 Image: 10.2 x 6.6 cm
Maharaja Raghuraj Singh of Rewa
Maharaja Raghuraj Singh of Rewa (r.1854-1880) Lucknow, 1860 Opaque pigments with gold on ivory Image: 11.4 x 7.1 cm In this rare portrait of Raghuraj Singh of Rewa (1854-1880), we see the imposing Raja seated in a European chair, holding a muhnal (hookah pipe) and a sword. He wears a fine red brocade jama with […]
Lakshmibai
Lakshmibai (1828-1858) Central India, Perhaps Jhansi, 1860 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 30.5 x 25.4 cm Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, was born in Varanasi in 1828. As the daughter of a high-ranking official, she was well educated and practiced in shooting and horsemanship. She married Raja Gangadhar Newalkar of Jhansi in 1842 […]
Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj
Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj (1809-1868) Gujarat, 1860 Brush drawing with pigment on paper Image: 31.5 x 27.9 cm This exquisite drawing depicts the highly revered Acharya of the Ahmedabad seat of the Swaminarayan sect, Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj. His father, Rampratapji was the elder brother of Shri Sahejanand Swami, founder of Swaminarayan sect. Ayodhyapradji is shown seated, legs crossed, […]
Kamatchi Bai Saheb
Kamatchi Bai Saheb (d. 1892) Thanjavur, 1852-60 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 17 x 11.2 cm Inscription: (back of the frame in English) Kamatchi Rai, the first of eighteen wives of Sivaji Raja The direct European impact on Tanjore painting began with the stationing of a British garrison in Thanjavur in 1773, during […]
Jung Bahadur Rana
Jung Bahadur Rana (1817-1877) Kathmandu, 1850 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 35.5 x 26.4 cm Folio: 41.4 x 32.5 cm Inscription: (front) Swasti Shrimad Tipraj sube rajetyadi Shri Shri Shri Maharaj Jung Bahadur Rana…..G.C.B. Prime Minister Rajya Commandar in Chief. Entering the Nepalese military at the age of 16 and naturally ambitious, Jung […]
Raja Man Singh
Raja Man Singh (r. 1635-1660) Nurpur, 1850 Opaque pigments with gold on paper Image: 15.5 x 9 cm Folio: 19.3 x 12.2 cm Inscription: (back) Shri Raja Man Singh Guleraya Raja Man Singh of Guler is often said to have been a man of great courage. When summoned to the Mughal court, he bravely refused […]