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Painting - Maharaja Kharak Singh on Horseback

Maharaja Kharak Singh on Horseback

  • Object:

    Painting

  • Place of origin:

    Panjab plains, India (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1838 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Opaque watercolour and gold on paper

  • Credit Line:

    Given by O.E. Dickinson

  • Museum number:

    IS.113-1953

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

  • Download image

Maharaja Kharak Singh (1801–1840) was the eldest son of the first Sikh maharaja of the Panjab, Ranjit Singh (1780–1839). He was brought up in the family’s martial traditions and given nominal command of an expedition at the age of six. He succeeded his father in June 1839, but was caught up in plotting between different court factions. By October 1839 he was a virtual prisoner of Dhian Singh, his father’s prime minister and a member of the Hindu Dogra family. Always frail in constitution, he was slowly poisoned, finalled dying on 5 November 1840.

This painting was formerly in the collection of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842. It was given to the V&A in 1953 by Lord Auckland’s great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson.

Physical description

Maharaja Kharak Singh, in yellow turban, dark green coat, white jama and green trousers rides a white stallion with dark red saddlecloth edged with gold. He faces left. An attendant in white with reddish-brown turban and red trousers holds a red parasol over his head.

Place of Origin

Panjab plains, India (made)

Date

ca. 1838 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Opaque watercolour and gold on paper

Marks and inscriptions

"Rajah Khurruck Singh"

Object history note

This painting was formerly in the collection of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India 1836-42, and brought back by him to England in 1842. It was given to the museum in 1953 by Lord Auckland's great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson.

Descriptive line

Sikh painting depicting Maharaja Kharak Singh (1801-1840) on horseback, Punjab Plains, about 1838-1840

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

W.G. Archer, Paintings of the Sikhs, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London 1966, cat. 89, fig. 21.

Materials

Paper; Opaque watercolour

Techniques

Painted

Subjects depicted

Horses; Servant; Equestrian; Ruler; Turbans; Parasols; Singh, Kharak (Maharaja)

Categories

Paintings; Sikhism

Collection code

SSEA

Download image
Qr_O79148
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