Ranjit Singh
Painting
ca. 1838-ca. 1840 (made)
ca. 1838-ca. 1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a conventional portrait of the first Sikh maharaja of the Panjab, Ranjit Singh (r.1801–1839). He is shown according to conventions derived from Mughal painting, with a halo and with a parasol held over his head by a bearer, indicating his royal status. He is shown from his right profile to conceal his blind eye, the result of childhood smallpox that also disfigured his skin. The portrait was probably painted in about 1838, when its former owner, Lord Auckland, visited the Sikh court. Lord Auckland was Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842, and brought the painting back to England. The portrait was presented to the V&A by Lord Auckland’s great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson, in 1953.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ranjit Singh (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Maharaja Ranjit Singh on horseback, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Sikh, Punjab Plains, ca.1838-1840 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) on horseback with an attendant holding a parasol walking alongside. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) on horseback with an attendant holding a parasol walking alongside. |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Given by O. E. Dickinson |
| Object history | The painting was formerly in the collection of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India from 1836-42 and was brought back to England by him in 1842. It was given to the museum by Auckland's great-nephew O.E. Dickinson. |
| Production | Sikh |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a conventional portrait of the first Sikh maharaja of the Panjab, Ranjit Singh (r.1801–1839). He is shown according to conventions derived from Mughal painting, with a halo and with a parasol held over his head by a bearer, indicating his royal status. He is shown from his right profile to conceal his blind eye, the result of childhood smallpox that also disfigured his skin. The portrait was probably painted in about 1838, when its former owner, Lord Auckland, visited the Sikh court. Lord Auckland was Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842, and brought the painting back to England. The portrait was presented to the V&A by Lord Auckland’s great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson, in 1953. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Paintings of the Sikhs / W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1966
cat. 6, pp. 128-129 and fig. 18. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.112-1953 |
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| Record created | November 21, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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