Portrait of a Raja, probably Raja Dhrub Dev of Jasrota

Object Details

• Label

  Portraits of Dhrub Dev with his distinctive high beaked nose were produced by painters from Mankot, Jasrota and Jammu. In the manner typical of Mankot, Jasrota, and Jammu portraiture in the early eighteenth century, the artist composed the image by combining plan views (carpet and tray) with frontal representations (figure, bolster, hookah). This painting is ascribed to Jammu because of the uncolored buff paper background and the colors, which are more subdued than those used at Mankot and Jasrota. The sober palette creates a dramatic, yet sensitive, image.

• Provenance

  To 1872

  Sir Thomas Phillips (1792-1872), U.K. [1]

  1974

  Sale, London, Sotheby’s, Oriental Manuscripts, Indian and Persian Miniatures, November 27, 1974, lot. 785: “A Portrait of a Bearded Hill Raja.” [2]

  2000

  Sale, South Kensington, London, Christie's, Islamic and Oriental Works of Art, April 13, 2000, lot no. 317: “Portrait of a Rajah.” [3]

  From 2000 to 2018

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, purchased at auction, “Islamic and Oriental Works of Art,” Christie's, South Kensington, London, April 13, 2000, lot no. 317, “Portrait of a Rajah.” [4]

  From 2018

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glyn Benkaim. [5]

  Notes:

  [1] See Sotheby’s, London auction catalogue, Oriental Manuscripts, Indian and Persian Miniatures, November 27, 1974.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See Christies, South Kensington, London auction catalogue, Islamic and Oriental Works of Art, April 13, 2000.

  [4] See note 3.

  [5] See Acquisition Justification Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Sir Thomas Phillips (English, 1792-1872)

  Sotheby's (London)

  Christie's (London)

  Ralph and Catherine Benkaim

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim

• Origin

  Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1680s

• Name

  Sotheby's (London), Benkaim, Ralph and Catherine, Phillips, Thomas, Benkaim, Catherine Glynn, Christie's (London)

• Place

  Kashmir, Jammu, India

• Topic

  Raja, South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Men, Hookah, Portraits, Smoking

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings