Portrait of Sardar Singh (Son of Savant Singh, 1730–68)c. 1760 · Study 2001.122

Context from the museum

The ruler of the princely state of Kishangarh chose to have himself depicted in an intoxicatingly paradisiacal setting. He and his queen occupy jeweled chairs on a white marble terrace with formal flower gardens overlooking a lake. They listen to a musical performance while female attendants stand ready to whisk away flies and serve tiny bottles liquor. The fresh palette and dramatically elongated eyes, especially on the women, are hallmarks of the most celebrated works from this Rajput court. The king is portrayed with less exaggerated features than the women, which makes him seem more human, despite the halo that sets off his face and elaborate turban.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The ducks, rabbits, and deer in the landscape are in pairs, contributing to the amorous mood.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for Portrait of Sardar Singh (Son of Savant Singh, 1730–68) is 21.9 cm wide and 27.9 cm high, equivalent to approximately 8.6 × 11.0 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.78:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.06 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 7.3% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 139.1 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Portrait of Sardar Singh (Son of Savant Singh, 1730–68) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 21.9 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?