Page 57 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

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A GROUP OF FOUR PORTRAITS OF MEWAR RULERS MAHARANA SARUP SINGH DISPLAYING HIS MARKSMANSHIP
UDAIPUR, 19TH CENTURY BY TARA (1828-1862), MEWAR, 1855
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; verso inscribed in ink with five
Image: 13 7/8 x 10 1/8 in. (35.2 x 25.7 cm), the largest; lines of devanagari, translated: “Maharana Sarup Singh with Sardar
Folio: 15 x 11 5/8 in. (38 x 29.5 cm), the largest Paswan, Nathulal, Kaka Chanda, Dhari Singh, Tej Ram - holding a
bundle of peacock feathers - and Uday Ram, by the painter Tara on
$4,000 - 6,000 the seventh day of December in the year 1855.”
Image: 8 x 12 in. (20.5 x 30.5 cm);
The first, a standing portrait of Maharana Sarup Singh, identified by its Folio: 10 x 13 7/8 in. (25.4 x 35.2 cm)
inscribed verso. The second, an equestrian portrait of Maharana Sajjan
Singh. The third, a seated portait of Maharana Surakh Singh, identified $3,000 - 5,000
by its inscribed verso. The fourth, a posthumous portrait of Ari Singh.
Compare with another portrait of Ari Singh in the National Gallery of Surup Singh was famous for his exploits as a sportsman. This scene
Victoria, see Topsfield, Paintings from Rajastan, Melbourne, 1980, of him shooting an apple off the head of a statue, or a live ascetic
p.128, no.186. (presumably named Uday Ram from the inscription), is perhaps one
of the more unusual events recorded by Tara, the master painter at
Provenance the Udaipur court. Compare with similar paintings of Surup Singh
Collection of George Andrew Spottiswoode (1827-1899), London throwing a javelin, dated 1844-45, and shooting a suspended mobile
Thence by descent to the current owner target, dated 1846 (Topsfield, Court Painting at Udaipur, Zurich, 2001,
pp.256-8, figs.228 & 231.)

Provenance
Collection of George Andrew Spottiswoode (1827-1899), London
Thence by descent to the current owner

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