Maharaja of Scindia, nobles, and high officials, Gwalior
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a large group portrait: a maharaja, nobles, and officials standing in neat rows, dressed in rich fabrics and jewels. This isn’t just a painting—it’s a photograph. Raja Deen Dayal was one of India’s first major photographers, blending Western techniques with local traditions. The image feels posed but real, like a snapshot of power and pageantry under British rule. To see more of India’s royal past through photography, look up Raja Deen Dayal (Indian, 1844–1905).
