Raja Pratap Singh of Sawar smoking a hookah

The raja wears an orange jama and orange and white striped turban. He sits on a green cover against a black background. An attendant dressed in yellow holds a peacock fan. The hookah bowl is blue and white.

… Read More

Maker(s)
Artist: Attributed to Wajid (active late 17th century)
Historical period(s)
ca. 1680
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (overall): 32.4 Ă— 22.9 cm (12 3/4 Ă— 9 in)
Geography
India, Rajasthan state, Sawar
Credit Line
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S2018.1.82
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Painting

Keywords
attendant, hookah, India, portrait, raja, Ralph and Catherine Benkaim collection
Provenance

1979
Sale, London, Sotheby’s, “Important Oriental Miniatures, Manuscripts and Qajar Lacquer,” October 8-9, 1979, lot no. 128: “A Portrait of Raja Pratap Singh of Sawar”

From 1979 to 2001
Ralph Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, purchased at auction, Sotheby’s, London, “Important Oriental Miniatures, Manuscripts and Qajar Lacquer,” Oct. 8-9, 1979, lot 128: “A Portrait of Raja Pratap Singh of Sawar”

From 2001 to 2008
Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, by inheritance from Ralph Benkaim after his death in 2001

From 2018
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim [1]

Notes:

[1] See Deed of Gift, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Sotheby's (London)
Ralph (1914-2001) and Catherine Benkaim
Catherine Glynn Benkaim

Description

The raja wears an orange jama and orange and white striped turban. He sits on a green cover against a black background. An attendant dressed in yellow holds a peacock fan. The hookah bowl is blue and white.

Label

Seated on an emerald cushioned low stool (chauki), Maharaja Pratap Singh (r.1668-1707) of the small court of Sawar (Ajmer district, Central Rajasthan) is smoking from a blue-and-white ceramic hookah. The raja wears an orange jama and orange and white striped turban. An attendant waves a peacock-feather fly-whisk (morchhal). Pratap Singh built a fort at Sawar and established a mint, which indicated Mughal approval.

Published References
  • Pasricha. Painting at Sawar and Issarda in the 17th century., Autumn 1982. p. 261.
Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use