Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi thumbnail 1
Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi

Painting
ca. 1780 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Bundi (made)

In this painting done in about 1780, RAja Ajit Singh of Bundi is shown being entertained by musicians and dancers. He is seated under a canopy smoking a huqqa wathing a young male kathak dancer. This is one of eight forms of Indian classical dances. The bejewelled ruler has lavish turban jewels, rows of pearl necklaces with gem-set pendants, and bracelets and bangles on both wrists.

Object details

Categories
Paintings
Musical Instruments
Dance
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Painting
TitleRaja Ajit Singh of Bundi (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Opaque Watercolour
Gold
Paint
Paper
Painted
Brief description
Painting, Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi, dance and musicians, painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Bundi, ca. 1780
Physical description
Painting in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi attending a kathak dance, being entertained by a boy dancer and musicians.
Dimensions
  • Height: 235mm
  • Width: 345mm
29/05/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013
Content description
Raja Ajit Singh of Bundi attending a kathak dance, being entertained by a boy dancer and musicians.
Style
Bundi
Gallery label
(March 2022)
Raja Ajit Singh ruled the small state of Bundi from 1771 to 1773. He is shown here with a child, possibly his son Bishan Singh, being entertained by musicians and dancers. The lavishly dressed raja has been depicted at a larger scale to reflect his status. All the men in the painting wear typical Bundi turbans of the period.
Credit line
Purchased from Maggs Bros. Ltd. in 1952
Subjects depicted
Dance
Musicians
Ruler
Ajit Singh
Summary
In this painting done in about 1780, RAja Ajit Singh of Bundi is shown being entertained by musicians and dancers. He is seated under a canopy smoking a huqqa wathing a young male kathak dancer. This is one of eight forms of Indian classical dances. The bejewelled ruler has lavish turban jewels, rows of pearl necklaces with gem-set pendants, and bracelets and bangles on both wrists.
Bibliographic references
  • Archer, W.G. Indian Painting in Bundi and Kotah Cat. no. 11, fig. 24, p. 12 Ekaterina Schcherbina, ed., India: Jewels That Enchanted the World. Moscow Kremlin Museums, 2014, cat. 99, p. 179
  • Bor, J. and Bruguiere, P. Gloire des Princes: Louange des Dieux, Musee de la Musique, 2003. p. 136, cat. no. 73
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.553-1952

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O433331/raja-ajit-singh-of-bundi-painting-unknown/
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