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Portrait of a man

Unknown

1700

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque 18th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

About this work

You see a man in a rich tunic, a curved dagger tucked in his sash. His eyes are clouded, but his back is straight. One hand lifts slightly, as if he’s about to speak. This is a tiny scrap from a bigger painting—just his head and shoulders. The way his lips part and his fingers hover tells you he’s asking for something. Even with his sight gone, his posture says he won’t be ignored. Look up more paintings tagged northern india, pahari kingdoms to see how other artists showed quiet dignity like this.

The story of this work

Overview

This sensitive portrait survives as a fragment, part of a study for a larger painting. This man’s Mughal tunic, with a katar dagger tucked into the sash, indicates that he is a noble, probably Hindu, because the tunic is tied under the left arm. The gesture of his right hand—just a ghost of an indication—and slightly parted lips suggest that he is making a request. His upright posture reveals an inner strength and dignity despite the affliction to his eyes, which seem no longer able to see.

Did you know?

The subject of this drawing might be a posthumous portrait of the blind king Sital Dev of Mankot (reigned 1630–1660), who died several decades before this drawing was made.

Read the full account in the museum source.