Artwork

Portrait of Tukoji II, the Maharaja Holkar of Indore, seated under a looped crimson curtain.

Portrait of Tukoji II, the Maharaja Holkar of Indore, seated under a looped crimson curtain. is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work portrays Tukoji II, Maharaja of the Holkar dynasty in Indore, seated on a chair topped with a gold lion‑head finial.

About this work

Overview

The work portrays Tukoji II, Maharaja of the Holkar dynasty in Indore, seated on a chair topped with a gold lion‑head finial. He is positioned before a deep red, looped curtain, with a vase of roses on a nearby table, and a richly patterned floor beneath.

Subject & Meaning

The Maharaja holds a sword in his left hand, signifying martial authority, while his right hand rests on a blue‑yellow sash and supports a small white sheet bearing black Devanagari script, likely a religious manuscript. His white jama, green‑stone necklace, pearl strands, and vibrant turban convey his princely rank and cultural identity.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas around 1870, the painting displays a realistic approach to figure and costume, with careful attention to texture in the silk garments and metallic chair finial. The use of a saturated crimson backdrop and detailed decorative elements reflects a courtly aesthetic common in late‑nineteenth‑century Indian portraiture.

History & Provenance

The artist remains unidentified, though the work is dated to 1870, situating it within the later period of the Holkar princely state. It has been recorded in museum collections documenting the visual culture of Central Indian royalty during the British colonial era.

Context

Tukoji II ruled Indore during a time of increasing British influence, and portraits such as this served to affirm traditional authority while engaging with contemporary artistic conventions. The inclusion of a religious text underscores the Maharaja’s role as a patron of Hindu scholarship.