Portrait of a Raja, probably Raja Dhrub Dev of Jasrota

Unknown

ca.1690-1700

Portrait of a Raja, probably Raja Dhrub Dev of Jasrota by Unknown

Classification

Painting

Department

Smithsonian Collection

Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Credit

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

Accession Number

S2018.1.6

Tags

Catherine and Ralph Benkaim CollectionIndiaSouth Asian and Himalayan Arthookahmanportraitrajasmoking

About this artwork

Portraits of Dhrub Dev with his distinctive high beaked nose were produced by painters from Mankot, Jasrota and Jammu. In the manner typical of Mankot, Jasrota, and Jammu portraiture in the early eighteenth century, the artist composed the image by combining plan views (carpet and tray) with frontal representations (figure, bolster, hookah). This painting is ascribed to Jammu because of the uncolored buff paper background and the colors, which are more subdued than those used at Mankot and Jasro...

About the Artist

Unknown

The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...

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