Portrait of Maharaja Pratap Singh (1764–1803)

c. 1793

attributed to Sahib Ram

(Indian, active 1745–1803)

Culture

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Jaipur

Medium

Colored ink drawing

Measurements

Overall: 61.4 x 40.5 cm (24 3/16 x 15 15/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski 2011.207

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Location

Not on view

Description

Maharaja Pratap Singh came to the throne in the princely state of Jaipur in 1778 at the age of 14, about 15 years before this portrait was painted. He was a poet and patron of the arts known for commissioning the famous “Palace of the Winds” in Jaipur. At his court he maintained an atelier of about 50 painters, among whom was a Muslim master, Sah ib Ram, to whom this painting is attributed.

Pratap Singh was a devotee of the Hindu god Krishna, and the mark on his forehead testifies to this affiliation. Though highly stylized, this portrait is recognizable as an image of Singh because of his profile and the distinctive curl of hair at the nape of his neck.