Kharak Singh
Painting
ca. 1838 - ca. 1840 (made)
ca. 1838 - ca. 1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Kharak Singh (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Kharak Singh on horseback, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Sikh, Punjab Plain, ca. 1838-1840 |
| Physical description | Painting, 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. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content 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. |
| Marks and inscriptions | "Rajah Khurruck Singh" (This English inscription is in the same hand as on IS.111-1953.) |
| Credit line | Given by O.E. Dickinson |
| Object history | 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. |
| Production | Sikh |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | 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. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Paintings of the Sikhs / W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1966
cat. 89, fig. 21. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.113-1953 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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