Artwork
Maharaja Man Singh
Maharaja Man Singh is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Chhajju Lal. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This portrait shows Maharaja Man Singh sitting straight with a long beard, wearing a white turban and a gold-trimmed red coat.
This portrait shows Maharaja Man Singh sitting straight with a long beard, wearing a white turban and a gold-trimmed red coat. His serious face and gold jewelry stand out against the plain background.
The artist, Chhajju Lal, worked in what’s now India around 1890. This style mixes detailed faces with simpler, flatter colors compared to older royal portraits.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more art like this.
Overview
The work is a portrait of Maharaja Man Singh, rendered in opaque watercolor and gold on paper. The ruler is shown seated on a modest chair, turned slightly to his left, his posture upright and dignified. A plain background isolates the figure, emphasizing his attire and facial features without decorative distraction.
Subject & Meaning
Man Singh is presented in ceremonial dress, wearing a white turban and a red coat edged with gold, complemented by a navy blue shawl patterned with gold‑bordered florals. His long beard, solemn expression, and gold jewellery convey authority and refinement, reflecting the princely status and the formal conventions of court portraiture.
Technique & Style
Chhajju Lal employed opaque watercolor to achieve a smooth, luminous skin tone, while gold leaf accents highlight the garment trim and jewellery. The composition balances meticulous facial detailing with broader, flatter colour fields for clothing, a stylistic shift from earlier Indian royal portraits that favored more elaborate backgrounds and intricate patterning.
History & Provenance
Created around 1890 in what is now India, the painting is attributed to the artist Chhajju Lal, known for court commissions during the late nineteenth century. The work entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of South Asian decorative arts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Chhajju Lal was the go-to painter for royal portraits in late-1800s India, always dressed in a spotless white kurta even when mixing paints.
