A PORTRAIT OF MAHARAJA RAM SINGH OF MARWAR

Maharaja Ram Singh of Marwar (r. 1730-1772) sits holding the long winding stem of a huqqah.  This very formal presentation portrait depicts the ruler nimbate wearing a long accordion-pleated saffron jama with a tall brilliant red pagri (turban), containing gold and jeweled ornaments and a sarpech.  On a terrace beneath a metal-posted canopy, against a flat green background - all on a magnificent vermillion red carpet.

Maharaja Ram Singh of Marwar (r. 1730-1772) sits holding the long winding stem of a huqqah.  This very formal presentation portrait depicts the ruler nimbate wearing a long accordion-pleated saffron jama with a tall brilliant red pagri (turban), containing gold and jeweled ornaments and a sarpech.  On a terrace beneath a metal-posted canopy, against a flat green background - all on a magnificent vermillion red carpet.

Likely by a Bikaner artist working at Jodhpur.  A very relatable portrait probably by the same artist or atelier, identified as Maharaja Surat Singh, is in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, depicting Surat Singh greeting his son and successor Ratan Singh (r. 1828-51), in the presence of two attendants - the raja seated on a nearly identical lion-armed metal chair like the one shown in our painting Ashmolean Museum accession no. EA1990.1285.

For an equestrian portrait of the ruler, refer to Victoria and Albert Museum London (accession no. S.281-1951).