The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of May 8, 2024
Portrait of Maharaja Rai Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1574–1612)
c. 1610
25.4 x 38.1 cm (10 x 15 in.)
Alma Kroeger Fund 2021.11
Location: not on view
Did You Know?
This painting is based on a drawing also in the CMA collection (1987.1100).Description
The portly Rajput king wears a long, belted tunic tied under the left arm—the custom of most Hindus. His berry-hued garments stand in pleasing contrast against the teal green background that references the lushness of paradise. Though the artist is unidentified, the naturalistic sensitivity of the portrait and delicacy of the garments imply the work of a master court painter, probably following a model by Nur Muhammad.Rai Singh had an illustrious career serving his overlord the Mughal emperor Akbar (reigned 1556–1605), and his daughter was married to Akbar’s son, Jahangir (reigned 1605–27).
- The royal family of Bikaner, by inheritance to the Princess of Bikaner?-mid-1960sThe Princess of Bikaner, sold in London to Jonathan Robert Aldermanmid-1960s-2021Jonathan Robert Alderman, London, UK, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art2021-The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Paintings of Bikaner – Indian Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 7, 2019-April 5, 2020).
- {{cite web|title=Portrait of Maharaja Rai Singh of Bikaner (reigned 1574–1612)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1610|access-date=08 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2021.11