Who painted Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99)?

Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99) was painted by Unknown in 1860.

Where can I see Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99)?

Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99)?

Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99) is associated with Patna School of Painting.

Artwork

Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99)

Unknown , 1860

Half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (r.1782-99) is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 19th-century ivory painting depicts a half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore from 1782 to 1799.

About this work

Look for more Indian miniatures at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

This miniature shows Tipu Sultan in a half-length portrait. He wears a white turban and a gold-trimmed coat. The background is plain gold. The artist used fine brushes to paint tiny details on ivory.

It was made in Delhi around 1860, not during Tipu’s rule. Paintings like this were often sold as souvenirs. Tipu was a powerful ruler of Mysore in the late 1700s.

Look for more Indian miniatures at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

This 19th-century ivory painting depicts a half-length portrait of Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore from 1782 to 1799. Created in Delhi around 1860, it is a product of the city's renowned miniature painting tradition on ivory.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait captures Tipu Sultan wearing a white turban and a gold-trimmed coat against a plain gold background. The subject's attire and the artist's attention to detail reflect the blend of artistic traditions and the historical significance of the ruler.

Technique & Style

Executed with fine brushes, the miniature showcases the delicacy and precision characteristic of Delhi's ivory paintings. The use of ivory as a medium and the gold background further emphasize the work's intricate craftsmanship.

History & Provenance

Almost certainly based on an earlier South Indian portrait, this work was not created during Tipu Sultan's reign but rather in the mid-19th century, as Delhi artists began incorporating southern Indian figures into their repertoire.

Context

Part of a broader trend in 19th-century Delhi, such miniatures were often produced as sets for sale as souvenirs, catering to interest in historical and monumental subjects from across the Indian subcontinent.