Portrait of Prince Sur Singh Rathor of Bikaner (1594–1631)

Portrait of Prince Sur Singh Rathor of Bikaner (1594–1631)

Unknown artist

A young prince stands against a light blue backdrop, dressed in white translucent muslin jama (belted tunic) and yellow trousers. He has a dagger safely tucked in his sash while he holds a long straight sword encased in a black sheath. Religious markings (tilakas) on his forehead, neck, and ear indicate that he was a follower of the Hindu god Vishnu, who was popular among the royal houses of Rajasthan.

Colors in this work

Details

Date
1611–13
Dimensions
page: height 0.205 m, width 0.134 m; miniature: height 0.112 m, width 0.064 m
Holding institution
Cleveland Museum of Art
Image provider
cleveland-museum-of-art
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund

Art Genome Taxonomy

9 tags

Subject Matter

  • Individual Portrait Both · 99%

    The museum title identifies the sitter as Prince Sur Singh Rathor, and the image shows a single individualized figure presented in profile.

  • Related to Religion Metadata · 97%

    The catalog states that religious markings on the prince’s forehead, neck, and ear indicate devotion to the Hindu god Vishnu.

Medium and Techniques

  • Painting Both · 99%

    The catalog classifies the work as a painting, and the image visibly presents a painted figure and painted setting.

  • The catalog identifies the work as gum tempera and gold on paper and gives a miniature measuring 0.112 by 0.064 meters; the image shows a small painted panel within a larger page.

  • Work on Paper Both · 99%

    Paper is specified as the support, and the image shows a page-format object with a bordered miniature and surrounding folio field.

Time Periods

  • 17th Century Art Metadata · 99%

    The museum dates the work to 1611–13, placing it in the seventeenth century.

Geographic Regions

  • Indian Art Metadata · 99%

    The work is cataloged as originating in northwestern India, Rajasthan, and associated with the Rajput Kingdom of Bikaner.

Materials

  • Gold Metadata · 96%

    Gold is explicitly included in the cataloged medium; small gold-colored highlights appear in the costume and ornaments.

Antiquities, Artifacts, and Religious Objects

  • Arms and Armor Both · 99%

    The catalog describes a dagger and a long straight sword in a black sheath, both of which are clearly depicted in the image.

Source & rights

Unknown artist. Portrait of Prince Sur Singh Rathor of Bikaner (1594–1631). Cleveland Museum of Art.

High-resolution sources