Maharaja Gulab Singh
Painting
ca. 1835 (made)
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.
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 | |
| Title | Maharaja 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 | 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.(27/9/2013) |
| 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 |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.37-1949 |
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| Record created | November 20, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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