NORTHERN INDIA, CIRCA 1850

These miniature portraits were probably painted at the end of the short reign of Maharaja Duleep Singh (r. 1843-49). Duleep Singh was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and was deposed by the East India Company following the second Anglo-Sikh war which led to the annexation of the Punjab. A list of the miniatures on paper watermarked with the date 1847 accompanies this lot. It lists Sher Singh [Attariwalla] as a 'rebel'. This probably followed his defeat of the British at the battle of Chillianwala in January 1849.
A similar set of Sikh portraits on ivory were sold in these Rooms, 7 April 2011, lot 291.
A transcription of the list of the miatures is as follows:
1)Runjeet Sing (Maharaja)
2)Shere Sing (ditto)
3)Dhulleep Sing (ditto)
4)Chunda (Maharannee)
5)Munnoo Jheet Sing (Rajah)
6)Jowharr Sing.
7)Nehal Sing (Maharaja)
8)Kurreeck Sing (ditto)
9)Deenah Nath (Rajah)
10)Goolab Sing (ditto)
11)Heerah Sing (ditto)
12)Khan Sing (ditto)
13)Moobray (Mooltan)
14)Shere Sing (The rebel.
15)Chuttur Sing (ditto)
16)Nehar Sing.
17)Kunniar Sing.
18)Tej Sing (Rajah)
19)Zubbur Sing (Pundit)
20)Ram Sing.
21)Dost Mahommed
22)Uttur Sing
23)Lall Sing (Rajah)
24)Bolah Sing (Akallia Chief)
25)King of Delhi
26)Shere Sing (Maharajah)
For the second framed collection:
28) Wife of Nawab, Lucknow.
29) ditto ditto
32) Taj, Agra
33) Palace, Delhi
34) Tomb at Delhi
35) Jumma Musjid, Delhi
36) Interior of above
37) Akbar Sheeh's Tomb, Secundra, Agra
38) Kutub, Delhi
39) Taj, Agra
40) Futtehpore Secree, Tomb, Selim Jister
41) Musjid, Delhi, (Radah Shah)
42) Motee Musjid, Agra
43) Etmandoo Dowlah, Agra, (Tomb)
47) King of Delhi in State
48) Court of the above
58) Iron Pillar and Arch at Kuteeb
59) Hall of Audience, Palace Delhi