Artwork
Maharawat Hari Singh
Maharawat Hari 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
The work is an opaque watercolor portrait of Maharawat Hari Singh of Deoliya Partabgarh, executed on paper around 1890. The composition presents the ruler within a green oval frame, set against an unadorned background that directs attention to his attire and facial features.
Subject & Meaning
Hari Singh is depicted in traditional South Asian royal dress, featuring a yellow turban striped in red, a red sash draped over his shoulder, and a beaded collar. A small red bindi marks his forehead, and a neatly trimmed mustache frames his clean-shaven face, indicating his status and cultural identity.
Technique & Style
The artist employed opaque watercolor, allowing for solid blocks of color and fine detailing, especially in the embroidered collar and turban patterns. The use of a plain background and a green oval frame creates a restrained setting, emphasizing the sitter’s likeness over decorative surroundings.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, the portrait bears the sitter’s name in pencil beneath the image, confirming its identification. The work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, where it is catalogued among other Indian princely portraits from the colonial period.
Artist & collection
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