18C Indian Miniature Painting of Maharana Ari Singh on horseback

Published by Nevan O Shaughnessy on March 2, 2023March 2, 2023

PRESENTING a VERY RARE 18C Indian Miniature Painting of Maharana Ari Singh on horseback.

Hand-painted on paper … Gouache.

The paper shows all the authentic signs of age (see pics).

Indian, Mewar circa 1750-70.

It features a portrait of Maharana Ari Singh of Mewar.

We know it is Maharana Ari Singh, due to a comparison of facial features and his rather distinctive beard. Also the image is almost identical to other portraits of him on horseback.

The ‘Maharana’ is on horseback, in a green meadow/pasture with blue horizon in the distance.

He is extravagantly dressed in white and gold robes, a gold inlaid circular shield seems to be draped over his shoulder with the shield only partially visible, sash and bejeweled pink/red headdress.

The horse is clearly a stallion and the bridle ware is highly ornate with hanging tassels and gold decorations. Even it’s front 2 feet have ankle bracelets.

The painting has gold leaf highlights for the his jewelry, the horses bridle ware, shield and headdress. It has silver leaf inlay on his waist sash.

The miniature has script on the back but we cannot translate it.

It is framed and under glass in a vintage gold frame and has an olive green matting. It was re-framed in Dallas in the late 20C by ‘Rust Picture Framing’ who operated in the late 1970’s at 3320 Kings Rd.

Ari Singh II (after 27 July 1724 – 9 March 1773) was the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom (r. 1762–1772).

The younger brother of Pratap Singh II, Ari Singh II was assassinated on 9 March 1773.

He reigned from 1762 to 1772. In his reign Marathas were weakened in India, but Mahadaji Scindia restored Maratha power in the North. He formed an alliance with Maratha against the Mughal Empire. He was also unable to pay his Maratha mercenaries who ravaged his country later.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Singh_II

Gouache (/ɡuˈɑːʃ, ɡwɑːʃ/; French: [ɡwaʃ]), body color, or opaque watercolor is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent (usually gum arabic or dextrin), and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be opaque.