Maharaja of Rewa and Classmates

1886

Raja Deen Dayal

(Indian, 1844–1905)

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Culture

India

Medium

albumen print

Measurements

Image: 19.8 x 27.1 cm (7 13/16 x 10 11/16 in.); Paper: 19.8 x 27.1 cm (7 13/16 x 10 11/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2016.266.19

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Location

Not on view

Description

Deen Dayal uses the arrangement of people and the architecture to point to the most important person in the photograph. Here, the Maharaja of Rewa is placed front and center. “Sardars,” inscribed on the top picture’s mount, refers to the military officials surrounding him. After 1858, British influence dictated that Indian rulers be educated in European history and ideas as well as their local culture and history. In the bottom image, the young maharaja is shown with Indian teachers, but the instructional tools are Western: bound books and a raised relief globe (with Asia visible).