Painting
ca. 1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The uncluttered lines and earthy colours of this painting are typical of western Rajasthan, especially Jodhpur, in the early 18th century. It has been suggested that the central figure of the painting is Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur (ruled 1707-24), but it is just as likely to be the ruler of a much smaller domain in the region. At this time, the fashion for portraiture had spread beyond the Jodhpur court to the outlying districts, and many minor nobles and land-owners had their portraits painted, either on horse-back or with their nobles, as here.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, group of Rajput nobles, possibly Raja Ajit Singh, sons and grandsons, opaque watercolour on paper, Jodhpur, ca. 1720 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, of a group of seated nobles. Four sit in a row facing their ruler, who smokes a huqqa, with two attendants behind him. Possibly Ram Singh (son of Abai Singh), Abhi Singh (son of Ajut Singh), Bakht Singh (son of Ajit Singh), and Bijai Singh (son of Bakht Singh). |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | A group of seated nobles. Four sit in a row facing their ruler, who smokes a huqqa, with two attendants behind him. Possibly Ram Singh (son of Abai Singh), Abhi Singh (son of Ajut Singh), Bakht Singh (son of Ajit Singh), and Bijai Singh (son of Bakht Singh). |
| Credit line | Given by Colonel T. G. Gayer-Anderson, CMG, DSO, and his twin brother Major R. G. Gayer- Anderson, Pasha. |
| Object history | From the Gayer-Anderson Collection. |
| Production | Painted either in Jodhpur itself or a nearby centre |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The uncluttered lines and earthy colours of this painting are typical of western Rajasthan, especially Jodhpur, in the early 18th century. It has been suggested that the central figure of the painting is Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur (ruled 1707-24), but it is just as likely to be the ruler of a much smaller domain in the region. At this time, the fashion for portraiture had spread beyond the Jodhpur court to the outlying districts, and many minor nobles and land-owners had their portraits painted, either on horse-back or with their nobles, as here. |
| Bibliographic reference | R.M.Cimino, Life at Court in Rajasthan (Turin, CESMEO, 1985), p.4.
R.Crill, Marwar Painting: A History of the Jodhpur Style (Mumbai, Indian Book House, 2000), p.79. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.257-1952 |
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| Record created | December 29, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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