Artwork
Maharaja Bakht Singh
Maharaja Bakht Singh is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1890, this portrait presents Maharaja Bakht Singh positioned on a tiled terrace. Rendered with opaque watercolour and gold on paper, the composition places the figure on a patterned rug, facing left against a backdrop of blue sky dotted with white clouds.
Subject & Meaning
The Maharaja is attired in traditional Indian dress: a white tunic, green trousers, a red sash at the waist, and a turban crowning his head. He holds a sword in his right hand and a flower in his left, symbols that juxtapose martial authority with a gesture of refinement.
Technique & Style
The work employs opaque watercolour combined with gold leaf, giving the surface a luminous quality. Fine brushwork defines the intricate rug pattern, the tiled low wall, and the floral motifs, while broader washes suggest the sky and distant clouds.
Context
The portrait reflects late‑nineteenth‑century Indian courtly portraiture, where rulers were often depicted in elaborate settings that emphasized status and cultural identity. The inclusion of both weaponry and botanical elements aligns with contemporary conventions of representing power and cultivated taste.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
