Portrait of a Raja, perhaps the Thakur of Bamboli

The nobleman holding the stem of a hookah in his right hand, the hilt of a sword in his left, wearing a blue jama with foliate decoration, a gold and red patka, thick pearl bracelets and a green turban with pearl strands. The gold and pearl details are in raised decoration, his emerald ring inlaid with green mica. Yellow and green ruled borders.

Historical period(s)
ca. 1840
School
Kota school
Medium
Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (painting): 29.2 × 20.6 cm (11 1/2 × 8 1/8 in) H x W (overall): 31.2 × 22.8 cm (12 5/16 × 9 in)
Geography
India, Rajasthan state, Kota or Dungarpur
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
S2018.1.81
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Painting

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

1989
Sale, New York, Sotheby’s, “Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art,” March 22, 1989, lot no. 150A: “Portrait of a Raja, Kotah”

To 2009
Theresa McCollough Gallery, New York

From 2009 to 2018
Catherine Glynn Benkaim, purchased from Theresa McCollough Gallery, New York in October 2009 [1]

Notes:

[1] According to information from Catherine Glynn Benkaim.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Sotheby's (New York)
Catherine Glynn Benkaim
Theresa McCollough Gallery opened 2000

Description

The nobleman holding the stem of a hookah in his right hand, the hilt of a sword in his left, wearing a blue jama with foliate decoration, a gold and red patka, thick pearl bracelets and a green turban with pearl strands. The gold and pearl details are in raised decoration, his emerald ring inlaid with green mica. Yellow and green ruled borders.

Inscription(s)

Verso: Jaipur 1789/1889; Kotah c. 1850, 600

Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
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