Equestrian portrait of Amar Singh II (r. 1698-1710) riding the horse Gira Baj

Object Details

• School/Tradition

  Udaipur school

• Inscriptions

  Recto: Ghodi Girad Baj Pokhar Singhji

  Mare Girad Raj [received from?] Pokhar Singh ji

  Verso (top center): (Jotdan) 24/32; ki(mat) 4 rupee

  Merwar Inventory no. 24/32; value 4 rupees

  (bottom right corner)

  kharcho?

  Spent?

  Spent?

• Label

  In early modern north India, horses were invaluable in battle, and thus played a central role in the culture of the Kshatriya warriors who ruled and protected the kingdoms of Rajasthan. By the late seventeenth century, royal portraiture was on its way to becoming the primary genre of Rajput painting, and equestrian portraits were a key mode for representing the prowess and territorial control of kings. In this painting, a ruler of Mewar, haloed and wearing a gold jama, proceeds across a sage green ground on a favorite chestnut steed. The portrait depicts either Rana Raj Singh I (r. 1652-80) or his successor Rana Jai Singh I (r. 1680-98) of Mewar. However, it relates more closely to equestrian portraits of Raj Singh that bear the name of horse and ruler in inscriptions.

• Provenance

  To 2011

  Estate of Mr. Howell, U.K. [1]

  2011

  Sale, London, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, January 19, 2011, lot. 354: “Maharana Amar Singh (reg. 1698-1710) riding with an entourage of attendants on foot”

  2011

  Shawn Ghassemi, San Francisco, California, purchased at auction “Islamic and Indian Art,” Bonhams, London, January 19, 2011, lot no. 354, “Maharana Amar Singh (reg. 1698-1710) riding with an entourage of attendants on foot”

  From 2011 to 2018

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, exchanged painting with Shawn Ghassemi in May 2011 [2]

  From 2018

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim [3]

  Notes:

  [1] The painting was sold at Bonhams, London as the Estate of Mr. Howell of the United Kingdom. His son of the name consigned the painting to Bonhams.

  [2] Catherine Glynn Benkaim exchanged her Kishangarh Radha and Krishna painting for this work from Shawn Ghassemi in May 2011.

  [3] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mr. Howell

  Estate of Mr. Howell

  Shariar M. Ghassemi

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim

• Origin

  Udaipur, Rajasthan state, 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

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1690s

• Name

  Howell, Benkaim, Catherine Glynn, Ghassemi, Shariar M., Estate of Mr. Howell

• Place

  Udaipur, Rajasthan state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Animals, Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Horses, Portraits

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings