Page 126 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013

186 186
An illustration from a hamir hath series
187 Kangra, 19th century
124 | Bonhams Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; the king
in conference with his ministers under the canopy
and then with a smaller group on the grass.
Image: 7 1/2 x 11 in. (19 x 27.9 cm)
$3,000 - 5,000

Compare with a closely related composition and
treatment of the figures by the artist Ghathu
Ram, circa 1870, in the San Diego Museum of
Art (1990.1258)

Provenance:
Private New England Collection, acquired in 1970s

187
A portrait of Raja Dhian Singh
Lahore, circa 1850-70
Opaque watercolor, gold, beetle wing and beads
on paper; the Sikh maharaja seated in his white
marble pavilion surrounded by his flourishing
paradise garden, wearing textured green and
orange robes and a pearl necklace delineated
with applied beads.
Image: 9 x 6 1/2 in. (22.8 x 16.4 cm)
$6,000 - 8,000

A number of closely related portraits are in the
Victoria and Albert Museum. The distinctive
profile compares favorably with (IS.116-1953).

Raja Dhian Singh (1796-1843) was the Hindu
prime minister during the reign of the first
Sikh maharaja of the Punjab, Ranjit Singh. He
was the second son of Mian Kishora Singh
Dogra, and the middle of three brothers from
Jammu who served the maharaja. He became
chamberlain of the royal household in 1818,
took part in military campaigns and was
awarded many honors and grants of land.

Provenance:
Property deaccessioned from the Gibbes
Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina
Gift of Colonel Charles Blackmon
(1975.005.0058)
A World War II era stamp on the reverse reads:
Passed By Examiner US Army Base 1812