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Raja Bikram Singh of Guler (reigned 1661-85) Smoking, about 1680. Creator: Unknown
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Raja Bikram Singh of Guler (reigned 1661-85) Smoking, about 1680. Creator: Unknown
Raja Bikram Singh of Guler (reigned 1661-85) Smoking, about 1680. An early example of portraiture in the western Himalayan court, this painting shows a regional king, with a distinctive pockmarked face, who has adopted hookah smoking, a courtly pleasure of his Mughal overlords. Raja Bikram Singh fought for the Mughal emperor Alamgir (reigned 1658-1707), so his accessories include Mughal weaponry, such as the long curved sword and piercing dagger. Both he and his attendant have Mughal sashes with lavishly embroidered flowering plants. The attendant is rendered smaller than the king, indicating his lesser importance. His trousers and tunic are tied under his arm in the Mughal style, and he holds a peacock-feather whisk over his kings head--an ancient Indian emblem of nobility
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Media ID 19639683
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Himachal Pradesh Northern India Opaque Watercolour And Gold On Paper Pahari Kingdom
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This print showcases Raja Bikram Singh of Guler, a regional king who reigned from 1661 to 1685. Created around 1680, this painting is an early example of portraiture in the western Himalayan court. The Raja's face bears distinctive pockmarks, adding character and uniqueness to his appearance. In this artwork, he is depicted indulging in the courtly pleasure of hookah smoking, which was adopted from his Mughal overlords. Raja Bikram Singh fought under the Mughal emperor Alamgir during his reign from 1658 to 1707. This influence is evident through the inclusion of Mughal weaponry such as a long curved sword and piercing dagger in his accessories. Both the king and his attendant wear Mughal sashes adorned with lavishly embroidered flowering plants. The attendant portrayed alongside him appears smaller in size, symbolizing his lesser importance compared to the king. His attire follows the Mughal style with trousers and tunic tied under his arm. Additionally, he holds a peacock-feather whisk over the king's head—a traditional emblem of nobility in ancient India. This remarkable painting was created using opaque watercolor and gold on paper by an unknown artist from probably Chamba within Himachal Pradesh, Northern India. It now resides at The Cleveland Museum of Art where it serves as a testament to both historical significance and artistic excellence within Indian heritage art.
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