Artwork
Maharaja Kharak Singh
Maharaja Kharak Singh is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is a portrait of Maharaja Kharak Singh executed in opaque watercolour and gold on paper. Rendered with a smooth, polished finish, the figure is seated cross‑legged on a cushion, surrounded by a plain light‑blue sky and a simple wall. A decorative border of swirling blue and gold motifs frames the image, emphasizing its formal presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The seated figure is attired in vivid green and orange robes edged with gold, topped by a yellow turban, and holds a small object in his hand, suggesting regal authority. The composition’s calm posture and sumptuous dress convey the status of a ruler, reflecting the courtly identity of Maharaja Kharak Singh.
Technique & Style
The painting employs opaque watercolour, a medium that allows rich, saturated pigments, combined with applied gold leaf to accentuate trim and border details. The artist’s handling of line is precise, producing smooth contours in the clothing and turban, while the background remains minimal, focusing attention on the figure and decorative frame.
History & Provenance
Created as a formal portrait of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Kharak Singh, the piece is documented as a work of courtly art from the early 19th century. Its provenance traces through private collections before entering a public institution, where it is conserved as an example of regal portraiture in South Asian watercolor tradition.
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
