Raja Viram Dev of Ghanerao out riding with attendants
Shihab al-Din
Life Story
From the 16th – 19th centuries many equestrian portraits and durbar scenes were produced. Often, the characteristic fort at Jodhpur, built on a massive rocky outcrop and towering over a flat semi-desert landscape, is shown in the background of these paintings and can help to identify them.
The Raja is painted in the typical Mughal equestrian portrait style. His face is in profile, his large moustache and large red turban are unmistakably Rajasthani, but his fine flowing costume and jewellery are painted in the detailed Mughal style. There are quite a lot of amusing details – attendants on foot carry various objects, a mace, a tether, a leafy branch and a picnic carpet, and there is even one attendant running alongside with the huqqa so the Raja can smoke as he rides. There is general air of enjoyment. In the background, on the other side of the river, there is a small white Hindu temple and a procession with elephants and horsemen. Jodhpur tort is not shown in the background but the hills are possibly the Aravalli range near Jodhpur.
Description taken from the ‘Art From The Indian Sub-Continent In The Sainsbury Centre’ catalogue by Margaret A. Willey (Sainsbury Centre, UEA, 1995).
Provenance
Donated to the Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia in 1973 as part of the origional gift.
Not on display
Title/Description: Raja Viram Dev of Ghanerao out riding with attendants
Artist/Maker: Shihab al-Din
Born: 1770
Object Type: Drawing
Materials: Gold, Paper, Watercolour
Measurements: Unframed: (h. 440 x w. 325 x d. 1 mm) Framed: (h. 612 x w. 486 x d. 20 mm)
Accession Number: 576
Historic Period: 18th century
Production Place: Asia, India, Rajasthan
School/Style: Indian Miniatures
Credit Line: Donated by Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, 1973