Artwork
Maharaja Madho Singh
Maharaja Madho Singh is a paint painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 18th-century Indian painting depicts Maharaja Madho Singh of Jaipur in a devotional pose before a shrine. The scene is characterized by its serene and respectful atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
Maharaja Madho Singh is shown paying reverence to figures of Radha and Krishna on a shrine, accompanied by four named brahmins who attend with ceremonial fans and lamps, highlighting the ruler's religious devotion.
Technique & Style
The painting's delicate color palette and nuanced facial expressions suggest a possible attribution to the Kishangarh school, differing from Jaipur's style. The subtle blending of tones may relate to techniques akin to sfumato.
History & Provenance
The Maharaja's identity is confirmed by an inscription on the painting's right side. The work dates to his reign (1751-1768), though its exact origin between Kishangarh and Jaipur remains inferred through stylistic analysis.
Context
Created during a period of flourishing Rajput court art, this painting reflects the religious and cultural practices of Indian princely states in the 18th century, where rulers often commissioned artworks to depict their piety.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
