AN EQUESTRIAN PORTRAIT OF SHAH RAJU II, SIGNED BY RASUL KHAN, INDIA, DECCAN, GOLCONDA, CIRCA 1670-80

Opaque watercolour on paper

Zebrowski 1983, fig.161, p.196
Michell and Zebrowski 1999, fig. 152, p.205

Much of main area of painted surface in fair coniditon with spots of discolouration and small patches of abrasion. Some areas of abrasion on horse's sadlle, bridle and tailband. Lower areas below horse's hooves and along right edge wormed and abraded with some losses. Stain at lower left. As viewed.
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This is an important and powerful equestrian portrait of Saint Shah Raju, the spritual guide of Sultan Abu'l-Hasan of Golconda. He is depicted in an almost martial manner, a tall, heavy figure riding a powerful, caparisoned horse. The horse trappings are rendered with rich detail and great care, as are the floral motifs on the saint's shawl. The face of the figure is calm and wise, but the artist has painted the horse in a dynamic manner, with carefully contoured musculature and a palpable sense of raw strength, enhanced by the steaming breath emanating from his open mouth. The horse in itself constitutes an animal portrait of great power and skill.

The artist's signature had been read by Zebrowski as "al-abd al-za'if rasul khan an-nayar khan" and he suggested that the artist was Rasul Khan painting this "after" a work by Nayyir Khan. In fact a close look at the inscription indicates that the signature is probably to be read "al-abd al-za'if Rasul Khan bin Aziz Khan".

There is also a minute inscription on the pectoral plate of the horse's trappings that Cary Welch had read as "Allah, Muhammad". Cary Welch's handwritten notes on the backboard of the frame are as follows:
"Descended from illustrious saint, Hazrat Syed Muhammad Gesu Daraz of Gulbarga.
Syed Shah Razin 'din Husain (bn. ca. 1605 - d.1684) better known as Shah Raja II (c.1605-84), Golconda, mid XVIIth c.
Inscribed on horse's pectoral "Allah Muhammad"
June '97: Naturalistic portraiture at Golconda, not in the usual Golconda style, influenced by Bijapur & Mughal portraiture.
Note: transparency of muslin, revealing arms- "royal" quality of pigment & workmanship- penetrating characterisation of Shah Raju who is shown as an aimiable, charismatic, agreeably "ugly" man, with roly-poly neck, heftly build - the most psychologically telling of Golconda portraits.
Although a sufi, descended from an illustrious saint of Gulbarga, he appears to enjoy "the good life".
High-stepping horse's neck echoes that of his master horse sports gold ankle bracelets, hennaed faint blue markings on chest and belly are in fish-scale patterns.
A suitable vehicle for this potent man - compact might - bulbous, sleek, taut, explosive, voluptous, curvilinear abstraction of form.
"Strzygowski: tab.17, ab. 51 Sajjid Radsch Qattal, Wien, Nationalbibliotheque.
Min. 64, Vienna, a set of Golc. pictures of late 17th c.
White-bearded, heavy-set man, standing- min 64, fol.2
From same set as one of Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626-72) riding with attendants.
Also: one of Sayyid Ahmed, another of Abul Hasan (abb.39, pl.14) of Mughal house; of Bijapur house; of Golconda house.
Abdullah Proc.[ession] pl.208 F R M[artin] (1626-72)".