Portrait of Raja Ajit Singh (?-1843), gouache heightened with gold on paper, wearing red and white, the Raja rides his grey horse across grassland, sky above, red border, inscription on reverse giving the artists name as Suraj Baksh, probably Nagaur school, c.1800 - 11¾in. x 8½in.

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Portrait of Raja Ajit Singh (?-1843), gouache heightened with gold on paper, wearing red and white, the Raja rides his grey horse across grassland, sky above, red border, inscription on reverse giving the artists name as Suraj Baksh, probably Nagaur school, c.1800 - 11¾in. x 8½in.

Lot Essay

A member of the Sindhanwalia clan, Ajit Singh was the nephew of the one-eyed Ranjit Singh (1786-1839) who united the Punjab creating a separate Sikh state. He seems best known for the grisly murder of Sher Singh, his son, Pratap Singh, and Raja Dhian Singh on 15th September 1843, during the struggle for power that evolved following the death of his uncle.

Archer, W.G.: Paintings of the Sikhs, London 1966, pl.83
Aijazuddin, F.S.: Sikh Portraits by European Artists, London 1979, pp.53, 108

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