Maharaja Madho Singh thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Maharaja Madho Singh

Painting
ca. 1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Kishangarh (made)
Nathadwara (made)
Rajasthan (made)

Maharaja Madho Singh of Jaipur (r.1751-68) is identified by an inscription on the right side of this painting.He stands in an attitude of reverence before a shrine on which are displayed figures of Radha and Krishna. The shrine is attended by four brahmins (who are also named in individual inscriptions) bearing fans and lamps. The delicate colouring of the painting and the sensitive treatment of the faces suggest that it was done in Kishangarh rather than in Jaipur.


Object details

Categories
Paintings
Royalty
Religion
Hinduism
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Painting
TitleMaharaja Madho Singh (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Opaque Watercolour
Paper
Paint
Painted
Brief description
Painting, Maharaja Madho Singh worshipping at a Krishna shrine, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Kishengarh or Nathadwara, ca. 1760
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Raja Madho Singh worshipping at a Krishna shrine attended by four brahmins. At the centre of the painting are figures of Radha and Krishna on a platform. On either side are priestly attendants with fans. Maharaja Madho Singh of Jaipur is standing on the right of the painting in an attitude of reverence. In the foreground is a fountain in which birds (parrots, peacocks and ducks) are drinking, and at the top of the painting is a balcony with a cloudy sky above.
Dimensions
  • With border width: 22cm
  • With border height: 30.5cm
Dimensions taken from Cimino 1985, p.31.
Content description
Raja Madho Singh worshipping at a Krishna shrine attended by four brahmins.
Style
Rajasthani
Marks and inscriptions
  • (written underneath figure on left)
    Translation
    [above subject's name]
    Transliteration
    'Munshi Hiralal'
  • (written underneath figure second from left)
    Translation
    [above subject's name]
    Transliteration
    'Sri Valabhji Maharaj'
  • (written beneath shrine)
    Transliteration
    'Sri Banjesurji'
  • (written underneath fourth figure from left)
    Translation
    [above subject's name]
    Transliteration
    'Sri Kaniyalalji' [probably; unclear]
  • (written underneath second figure from right)
    Translation
    [above subject's name]
    Transliteration
    'Ram sajjan'
  • (written underneath righthand figure)
    Translation
    [above subject's name]
    Transliteration
    'Raja Madho Singhji'
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support
Object history
Formerly in the J.C.French collection
Subjects depicted
Worship
Ruler
Shrine
Brahmins
Peacocks
Parrots
Ducks
Madho Singh
Summary
Maharaja Madho Singh of Jaipur (r.1751-68) is identified by an inscription on the right side of this painting.He stands in an attitude of reverence before a shrine on which are displayed figures of Radha and Krishna. The shrine is attended by four brahmins (who are also named in individual inscriptions) bearing fans and lamps. The delicate colouring of the painting and the sensitive treatment of the faces suggest that it was done in Kishangarh rather than in Jaipur.
Bibliographic reference
R.Cimino, Life at Court in Rajasthan, Florence, 1985, p.31.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.157-1955

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Record createdFebruary 17, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121236/maharaja-madho-singh-painting-unknown/
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