Artwork
Raja Surjan Singh
Raja Surjan Singh is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This portrait painting, executed in opaque watercolour on paper, depicts Raja Surjan Singh of Bundi in attire characteristic of the Akbar period, conveying his noble status through intricate, symbolic clothing and accessories.
Subject & Meaning
Raja Surjan Singh is portrayed in a calm, powerful pose, holding a curved sword. His elaborate outfit, including a transparent jama, patterned trousers, and gold turban, signifies his rank and affiliation with the Akbar period's aesthetic and political culture.
Technique & Style
The work features bold, flat forms and a plain gold background, typical of its stylistic period. However, its execution as a later copy, possibly for lesser nobility, may account for the simplified, stylized rendering of details.
History & Provenance
Believed to be a later copy of an earlier portrait, this painting may have been part of a series commissioned for lesser nobility, indicating a broader dissemination of royal imagery among the nobles of the time.
Context
Created during a period influenced by Akbar's cultural and artistic policies, the painting reflects the fusion of local and imperial styles, characteristic of Rajput kingdoms like Bundi during this era.
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
