Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting by the Baroque artist Stipple Master. It dates from 1712 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Together these elements convey the subject’s divine right to rule and the fusion of political and spiritual legitimacy in early 18th‑century Indian portraiture.
The work portrays a regal figure identified as a king mounted on a horse, a composition that merges equestrianism with sovereign iconography. The rider’s elevated position and the inclusion of a horse, a traditional emblem of power and mobility, underscore the monarch’s authority and martial prowess. Gold leaf and basra pearls accentuate the ceremonial context, while the setting in Mewar suggests a regional patronage that blends local artistic conventions with Mughal‑influenced courtly symbolism.
Together these elements convey the subject’s divine right to rule and the fusion of political and spiritual legitimacy in early 18th‑century Indian portraiture.
Technique & Style
The work employs a refined stipple technique, executed in ink and opaque watercolor heightened with gold and basra pearls on paper. The support is a single sheet of paper measuring 21 cm in height by 19 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition centers on an equestrian portrait of a king, characterized by delicate pointillist hatching to articulate form and texture.
The handling privileges linear precision over broad modeling, with the pearls affixed to the surface to accentuate regal insignia and harness details. The condition is not addressed in the cited sources.
History & Provenance
Created in 1712, the work Untitled was produced by the artist known as the Stipple Master in the Mewar region. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and basra pearls on paper, the piece depicts a king and a man engaged in equestrianism. The painting measures 21 by 19 units and is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
While the specific commission details and the complete chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the beginning of 1712. The piece remains a significant example of early 18th-century portraiture from Mewar, characterized by its unique combination of materials and subject matter focusing on royal equestrian themes.
The work titled Untitled is recorded as being held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is part of the museum's collection. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available documentation. The painting was created in 1712 in Mewar and depicts a king on horseback, reflecting equestrian themes.
Exhibition history is not mentioned in the sources, indicating that the work has not been publicly listed in exhibitions within the supplied records.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered with ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and Basra pearls on paper, depicts an Indian monarch mounted on a horse. The composition showcases intricate detailing and a distinctive visual texture, characteristic of certain South Asian artistic traditions. The use of precious materials underscores the work's intended luxury and the importance of its subject.
Artist & collection
