Details
Opaque watercolour heightened with gold and silver on paper, inscribed in gold devanagari script on green ground with the names of Akhi Singh and his courtiers, and the name of the painter at the bottom on white ground

Folio 1112 x 16 in. (29.2 x 40.8 cm.)
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Lot Essay

Maharawal, or as inscribed here, Maharaja Akhi Singh of Jaisalmer (reigned 1722-1762) is seated against a lavender cushion on a cusped silver throne, under a canopy on a white marble terrace divided from the green backdrop by a low marble balustrade. He is lavishly dressed and armed. Tucked into his patka (sash) is a spectacular gold and gem-set katar (thrust-dagger) in a jewelled scabbard and chape. He strokes the hilt of the dagger with his right hand while he listens to the discussions of the durbar, his other hand resting on a black shield. All the figures are simply dressed in crisp white jamas and wear tall turbans similar to the fashion of neighbouring Jodhpur.

The name of the artist below the throne has been partly deciphered as: sabi vai [or] kai....mangal chateran. According to Robert Skelton who deciphered this signature, since the painting is not a likeness of the artist, “vai” or “kai” is probably part of a word indicating that Mangal Chateran has made the likeness.

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