Quar Nunihal Singh with General Fateh Singh and Divan Sundar Lal

Quar Nunihal Singh (Raja Nau Nihal Singh) (1821-1840) was the grandson of Ranjit Singh, and the son of the 'half-witted' Kharak whom he conspired against and overthrew in 1839. He died in dubious circumstances: crushed by a fall of masonry whilst returning from his father's funeral (see W.G. Archer, Paintings of the Sikhs, London, 1966, for further information).

The present watercolour shows the Sikh artist's particular attention to the detail of the jewellery and the textiles. The artist has not only heightened the sheet with gold paint but has also used touches of bodycolour to raise the surface of the watercolour and indicate the pearls on his sarpech.