Raja Sujan Singh of Bikaner smoking a hookah

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    ca. 1715-1720
  • Geography

    Bikaner, Rajasthan state, India
  • Material

    Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W (painting): 18.5 × 11.5 cm (7 5/16 × 4 1/2 in)
  • Accession Number

    S2018.1.84
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S2018.1.84

Object Details

  • Artist

    Ustad Ahmad (active early 18th century)
  • School/Tradition

    Bikaner school
  • Marks

    Verso: Purple stamp of the personal collection of the Maharaja of Bikaner 1963, [dated notation entered by hand on] 17.8.64; inventory no. 5317
    Khet Singh
    Khet Singh
  • Inscriptions

    Verso: in Nagari: samvat 1803 miti bhadva(n) sudi 5 s(h)abi maharaja sujan singhji ri kam uste ahmad s(h)ha muhamad ro
    Samvat 1803 bright half of the month of Bhadon, 5th day, likeness of Maharaja Sujan Singh. Work of the Master (Ustad) Ahmad, (son of) Shah Mahmud
    Inspection date: Sunday 10th August 1746
    Inspection date: Sunday 10th August 1746
  • Provenance

    From ca. 1715 to 1964
    Personal collection of the Maharaja of Bikaner
    From ? to 2003
    Francesca Galloway, London [1]
    From 2003 to 2018
    Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, purchased from Francesca Galloway, London in 2003
    From 2018
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim
    Notes:
    [1] We were unable to trace the painting between 1964, when it certainly was in Bikaner, and 2003, when it certainly was in London.
  • Collection

    National Museum of Asian Art Collection
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Maharaja of Bikaner (Bikaner, Rajasthan state, India)
    Francesca Galloway, Ltd. (established 1992)
    Catherine Glynn Benkaim
  • Origin

    Bikaner, 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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