Raja Gulab Singh (1792–1857) of Jammu and Kashmirc. 1830–40 · Study 1925.1338

Context from the museum

Raja Gulab Singh of the Dogra dynasty projects royal power by smoking a hookah carried alongside his horse. His umbrella signifies royalty, and the sword and shield indicate his status as a warrior. In 1846, he founded the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which he succeeded in expanding well into the Himalayas. Previously, he served as a military commander for the Sikhs, a religious group originating in India’s northwestern Punjab region. Though Hindu, this portrait depicts him without any visible indication of his religious affiliation. After the mid-1800s, fewer Pahari kings commissioned painted portraits, since most preferred the new medium of photography.

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

A detail to notice

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877–1947), who sold this painting to the CMA, was a curator of Indian art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and a prolific author of art historical and philosophical works.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for Raja Gulab Singh (1792–1857) of Jammu and Kashmir is 13.8 cm wide and 19.8 cm high, equivalent to approximately 5.4 × 7.8 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.70:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.03 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 4.6% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 143.1 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 Raja Gulab Singh (1792–1857) of Jammu and Kashmir in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera, gold, and silver on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 13.8 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?