SIGNED PARSI SAH PHOTO-ARTIST OF NAINI TAL, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1905

Our painting together with a further portrait of Kishan Singh with Mary, Princess of Wales, later Queen Mary, were probably produced following the Royal Tour of 1905-06.The portrait with Princess Mary was offered for sale at Bonham’s London, 8 October 2008, lot 426. The imposing military figure in our painting is probably the British Political Agent who may be identified as Major W. Stratton ICS. The administration of the Bharatpur state was under the control of the Political agent to the Eastern States of Rajputana who was Major Stratton during the minority of Kishan Singh. The artist Parsi Sah was recorded as a resident of Nainital in 1903 and 1904, but little more is known about him.