Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion
1845–46
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Image: 16 3/4 x 22 3/4 in. (42.5 x 57.8 cm) Sheet: 19 x 24 7/8 in. (48.3 x 63.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
Western India, Rajasthan, Mewar
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon B. Polsky Fund, 2001
Accession Number
2001.344
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vivid painting from 1845–46 captures Maharana Sarup Singh, ruler of Mewar in Rajasthan’s Western India, carefully examining a prized stallion. Created by the artist Tara, the scene unfolds outdoors amid tents, attendants, dogs, and horses, offering a glimpse into the daily rituals and equestrian culture of the Mewar court. Such depictions celebrated the ruler’s authority and the region’s renowned horse-breeding traditions during the mid-19th century. Executed in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, the work exemplifies the refined techniques of Rajasthani miniature painting. The ge...