Ranjit Singh with Hira Singh
- Object:
- Place of origin:
Panjab plains, India (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
- Credit Line:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
South Asia, room 41, case E1
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This painting shows Ranjit Singh, the first Sikh maharaja of the Panjab (r.1801–1839), seated on a western-style chair with his legs tucked underneath him, the manner in which he was often seen by European visitors to the court. He is shown with Hira Singh (1816-–1844), who was introduced to the maharaja by his father, Dhian Singh, an influential Hindu courtier. Ranjit Singh gave the boy the title of raja in 1828 and then proclaimed him ‘Farzand-i khas’ – ‘the favoured son’.
The painting was formerly in the collection of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842, who went to the court of Ranjit Singh in 1838. The painting was brought by him to England in 1842 and given to the V&A in 1953 by Auckland’s great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson.
Physical description
Maharaja Ranjit Singh seated with Hira Singh. Ranjit Singh (left), in yellow turban, white shirt and dark green trousers, sits in a gold chair, with his legs tucked under him on the seat. Seated before him is his favourite companion, Hira Singh, in white jama, crimson coat and yellow turban and trousers. At the top is an orange blind edged with dark green. A frail tree with pink flowers grows against a backdrop of pale green.
Place of Origin
Panjab plains, India (made)
Date
ca. 1838-1840 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Maharaja Runjit Singh & Raja Heera Singh
Dimensions
Height: 201 mm painting only, Width: 139 mm painting only, Height: 283 mm with border, Width: 222 mm with border
Object history note
Formerly in the collection of Lord Auckland (Governor-General of India 1836-1842) and brought by him to England in 1842. It was given to the V&A by Auckland's great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson.
Historical context note
Hira Singh was introduced to Maharaja Ranjit Singh by his father, Dhian Singh, an influential Hindu courtier. The maharaja took favourably to the young boy and treated him with great generosity, eventually bestowing on him the title of Raja in 1828 and then proclaiming him "farzand-e khas", or "favoured son". After Ranjit Singh's death, Hira Singh became Prime Minister in 1843 but became increasingly unpopular and was murdered in December 1844.
Descriptive line
Sikh painting; Ranjit Singh with Hira Singh; opaque watercolour and gold on paper; Panjab Plains; ca.1838-1840.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Archer, W.G. 'Paintings of the Sikhs.' London:Victoria and Albert Museum, 1966, p. 129 and fig. 19. Jaffer, A. Furniture from British India and Ceylon: a catalogue of the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2001. ISBN 1 85177 318 5. p.116, fig.47.
Production Note
Sikh
Materials
Paper (fiber product); Opaque watercolour
Techniques
Painting
Subjects depicted
Maharaja Ranjit Singh; Singh, Hira (Raja)
Categories
Paintings
Collection code
SSEA
