Artwork
Thakur Yaswanta Singhji (reigned 1688-1707)
Thakur Yaswanta Singhji (reigned 1688-1707) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The work portrays a seated figure rendered in profile, looking toward the right.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays a seated figure rendered in profile, looking toward the right. He is dressed in a white tunic accented by a red and gold sash, and wears a jeweled turban topped with a black feather. In his right hand he grasps a sword whose hilt is gilded, indicating martial authority. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s elevated rank through costume and pose.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait likely represents Thakur Yaswanta Singhji, a regional ruler who held power between 1688 and 1707. The regal attire, ornamental turban, and weapon suggest both sovereign authority and martial prowess, common visual cues used to convey legitimacy and noble lineage in early modern Indian portraiture.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous brushwork, the painting displays fine detailing in the fabric’s pattern, the jeweled turban, and the sword’s gold hilt. The use of contrasting colors—white, red, gold, and black—creates a vivid visual hierarchy, while the profile orientation follows a traditional Indian portrait convention that emphasizes the sitter’s status rather than psychological depth.
History & Provenance
The artwork is identified as a portrait of Thakur Yaswanta Singhji, who reigned from 1688 to 1707. No further information on its original commission, subsequent ownership, or museum acquisition is provided, leaving its later trajectory undocumented.
Artist & collection
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