Raja Dhian Singh
Painting
ca. 1838 (made)
ca. 1838 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This portrait depicts Raja Dhian Singh (1796-1843) and was painted by an unknown artist in the Sikh kingdom of the Panjab, probably in about 1838. The region, now divided between India and Pakistan, flourished under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (r. 1801-1839) and attracted artists from the Hindu kingdoms of the nearby Punjab Hills.
Senior members of the court circle were as likely to be Hindus or Muslims as Sikhs, and Raja Dhian Singh was a member of the influential Hindu Dogra family. He was close to Ranjit Singh, and in 1818 was appointed "deorhidar" or chamberlain of the royal household. By 1827 he had become the principal minister of the Maharaja. The painting was from the collection of Lord Auckland (Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842), who visited the Sikh court in 1838. He brought the painting back to to England in 1842, and it was given to the museum by his great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson, in 1953.
Senior members of the court circle were as likely to be Hindus or Muslims as Sikhs, and Raja Dhian Singh was a member of the influential Hindu Dogra family. He was close to Ranjit Singh, and in 1818 was appointed "deorhidar" or chamberlain of the royal household. By 1827 he had become the principal minister of the Maharaja. The painting was from the collection of Lord Auckland (Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842), who visited the Sikh court in 1838. He brought the painting back to to England in 1842, and it was given to the museum by his great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson, in 1953.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Raja Dhian Singh (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Raja Dhian Singh, Punjab Plains, probably Lahore, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, ca. 1838-1840 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Raja Dhian Singh (1796-1843) seated on a chair on a terrace. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Content description | Raja Dhian Singh (1796-1843) seated on a chair on a terrace. |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Rajah Dhen Singh' (Written in English in the same hand as IS.111-1953) |
| Credit line | Given by O. E. Dickinson |
| Object history | Formerly in the collection of Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India 1836-1842, and brought back by him to England in 1842. It was given to the museum by his great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson. |
| Production | Sikh |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This portrait depicts Raja Dhian Singh (1796-1843) and was painted by an unknown artist in the Sikh kingdom of the Panjab, probably in about 1838. The region, now divided between India and Pakistan, flourished under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (r. 1801-1839) and attracted artists from the Hindu kingdoms of the nearby Punjab Hills. Senior members of the court circle were as likely to be Hindus or Muslims as Sikhs, and Raja Dhian Singh was a member of the influential Hindu Dogra family. He was close to Ranjit Singh, and in 1818 was appointed "deorhidar" or chamberlain of the royal household. By 1827 he had become the principal minister of the Maharaja. The painting was from the collection of Lord Auckland (Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842), who visited the Sikh court in 1838. He brought the painting back to to England in 1842, and it was given to the museum by his great-nephew, O.E. Dickinson, in 1953. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic reference | Paintings of the Sikhs / W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1966
pl. 30, and pp. 137-138. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.117-1953 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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