Artwork
Portrait of Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat

Portrait of Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting depicts Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat, likely created around 1720.
About this work
This painting shows a man in profile, wearing a bright yellow turban with red flowers and a red stripe.
This painting shows a man in profile, wearing a bright yellow turban with red flowers and a red stripe. His earlobes are stretched with large white and red earrings, and he has a mustache. The background is dark, and his face is painted in simple, flat colors with no shadows.
The style looks like it’s from a long time ago, around 1720. The bright colors and bold patterns suggest it might be from South Asia.
If you like this kind of portrait, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat, identified as the sitter in this 1720 portrait. As a formal portrait, the painting serves to represent the individual's identity and status within his historical context. The sources do not provide specific details regarding additional iconographic elements, symbolic objects, or deeper allegorical meanings associated with the figure beyond his depiction as the named subject.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created in 1720, depicting Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat. While the specific identity of the artist remains unknown, the work is classified as a painting within the portrait genre. The piece currently resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under the accession number 2018.196.
No further details regarding its original commission, earlier ownership history, or the specific circumstances of its creation are provided in the available records.
The Portrait of Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, located in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 2018.196. Created in 1720, this painting by an unknown artist is classified as a portrait within the museum's holdings. The provided sources do not list any specific exhibition history for this object.
Overview
This painting depicts Rao Shiv Singh Chandrawat, likely created around 1720. The portrait presents a man in profile, distinguished by a vibrant yellow turban adorned with red flowers and a stripe. His features include a mustache and elongated earlobes displaying prominent white and red earrings. The artwork's bright palette and distinct patterns are characteristic of South Asian painting traditions from that era.
Technique & Style
Executed with a precise hand, the portrait employs flat areas of color without the use of shadows, a stylistic choice that emphasizes outline and pattern over three-dimensional modeling. The background remains dark, allowing the vivid hues of the subject's attire, particularly the yellow and red, to stand out. This approach, characterized by bright colors and bold decorative elements, aligns with painting styles prevalent in South Asia during the early 18th century.
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