This head and shoulders portrait of Raja Udit Narain Singh of Benares (1795-1835) smoking a huqqa.

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Not currently on display at the V&A

Artist/Maker	Unknown
Place of origin	Varanasi (made)

This Company Painting (a painting made by an Indian artist for the British in India) is a portrait of Raja Udit Narain Singh (1795-1835) of Varanasi (Benares). It shows him smoking a huqqa. He was a member of the Bhuinhar family and was the nephew of Chait Singh (ruled 1772-1781), who had been installed as raja by the British. He succeeded Maharaja Mahip Singh (ruled 1781-1795) and was himself succeeded by his adopted son, Sir Ishwari Narain Singh, in 1835.

Painting on ivory was not widely practised in Varanasi. Painting on mica (talc) was far more popular.

Object details

Categories	Indian Company Paintings SCRAN
Object type	Portrait
Title	This head and shoulders portrait of Raja Udit Narain Singh of Benares (1795-1835) smoking a huqqa.
Materials and techniques	Watercolour on ivory Watercolour Ivory Painted
Brief description	Painting; Watercolour on ivory,Varanasi, ca.1830
Physical description	This head and shoulders portrait of Raja Udit Narain Singh of the Bhuinhar family shows him smoking a huqqa.
Dimensions	Length: 8.5cm Width: 7cm
Style	Company
Marks and inscriptions	'Raja Oudit Narain Singh, Ramnagar' (Inscribed:)
Subjects depicted	Costume Raja Udit Narain Singh
Summary	This Company Painting (a painting made by an Indian artist for the British in India) is a portrait of Raja Udit Narain Singh (1795-1835) of Varanasi (Benares). It shows him smoking a huqqa. He was a member of the Bhuinhar family and was the nephew of Chait Singh (ruled 1772-1781), who had been installed as raja by the British. He succeeded Maharaja Mahip Singh (ruled 1781-1795) and was himself succeeded by his adopted son, Sir Ishwari Narain Singh, in 1835. Painting on ivory was not widely practised in Varanasi. Painting on mica (talc) was far more popular.
Bibliographic reference	Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 219 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection	South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number	IS.32-1985

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Record created	December 15, 1999
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16849/this-head-and-shoulders-portrait-portrait-unknown/

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