John Graff (1836-1906) was a talented Swiss enamel portraitist who was popular during the later part of the 19th century. His clients were typically important European families, however, J. Graff was also commissioned to create portraits for the Indian market.
Depicted here, His Highness Pratap Singh was a career British Indian Army Officer and the Maharaja of Idar. From 1878 to 1911 he served as Administrator and Regent under four Maharajas of Jodhpur. While serving the Maharajas of Idar he developed a close relationship with the British Royal family and became Edward VII’s aide-de-camp from 1887 to 1910. Pratap abdicated the gadi in 1911 and built an illustrious military career serving in the British Indian Army. His service in the Second Afghan War, the Tirah Campaign, the Boxer Rebellion, and the First World War earned him many honors including the Order of the Star of India, the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal, the Order of Bath, the Order of the Nile, the Legion d’Honneur, and the Order of the Star of Romania. After thirty-eight years of military service, he returned as to the role of Regent of Jodhpur until his death in 1922.