Maharaja Gulab Singh  thumbnail 1
Maharaja Gulab Singh  thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not on display

Maharaja Gulab Singh

Painting
ca. 1835 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painting was done in the Panjab Plains, probably about 1835, and is typical of the style associated with the court of the first Sikh Maharaja of the Panjab, Ranjit Singh (r.1801–1839). It depicts the Hindu Raja of Jammu performing ritual ablutions prior to worship.

Gulab Singh was one of the many Hindus in the army of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, joining in 1809. He succeeded his father, Kishora Singh, in 1822 as chief of the kingdom of Jammu, now part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and was a successful ruler as well as a fine soldier, serving in various campaigns in the Panjab hills and Kashmir. His loyalty to the Sikh state did not survive the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839, however. He passed military intelligence to the British before the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845–1846, for which he was rewarded by being made ruler of Kashmir in addition to remaining ruler of the adjacent kingdom of Jammu.

The painting was formerly owned by the renowned collectors P. C. Manuk, an Indian lawyer, and his companion Miss G. M. Coles.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMaharaja Gulab Singh (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, Maharaja Gulab Singh's ritual ablutions before worship, opaque watercolour on paper, Punjab Plains, ca. 1835
Physical description
Painting, opaque watercolour on paper, Maharaja Gulab Singh (1792-1857) of Jammu standing being washed by a servant before worship. A princely figure sits in an alcove at top right. Hills and flowering trees are seen through a pillared verandah.
Content description
Maharaja Gulab Singh (1792-1857) of Jammu's ritual ablutions before performing puja. A regal figure is seated in the top right hand corner. Hills and flowering trees are seen through a pillared verandah.
Gallery label
(27/9/2013)
MAHARAJA GULAB SINGH
Opaque watercolour
on paper
Punjab Plains
c. 1835

IS.37-1949
P.C. Manuk and Miss G.M. Coles Bequest, through the Art Fund
Gulab Singh is ritually washing himself in front of a small shrine within his palace. The miniature golden throne with a small parasol attached would usually have a statuette of a Hindu deity. Here, it has instead sacred shalagrama (black ammonite) stones associated with the god Vishnu. This may reflect the influence of Sikhism, which does not have figural representations of the deity, on local Hindu practice.
Credit line
P. C. Manuk and Miss G. M. Coles Bequest through Art Fund
Object history
This painting was formerly in the collection of the Indian lawyer Percival Chater Manuk and his companion, Miss G. M. Coles.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This painting was done in the Panjab Plains, probably about 1835, and is typical of the style associated with the court of the first Sikh Maharaja of the Panjab, Ranjit Singh (r.1801–1839). It depicts the Hindu Raja of Jammu performing ritual ablutions prior to worship.

Gulab Singh was one of the many Hindus in the army of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, joining in 1809. He succeeded his father, Kishora Singh, in 1822 as chief of the kingdom of Jammu, now part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and was a successful ruler as well as a fine soldier, serving in various campaigns in the Panjab hills and Kashmir. His loyalty to the Sikh state did not survive the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839, however. He passed military intelligence to the British before the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845–1846, for which he was rewarded by being made ruler of Kashmir in addition to remaining ruler of the adjacent kingdom of Jammu.

The painting was formerly owned by the renowned collectors P. C. Manuk, an Indian lawyer, and his companion Miss G. M. Coles.
Bibliographic references
  • Paintings of the Sikhs / W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1966 p. 143, cat. no. 20, fig. 37.
  • Stronge, S. (Ed.) "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms", V&A, 1999 p.221, Cat. 96
Collection
Accession number
IS.37-1949

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdNovember 20, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest