Add Or 3821

Raja Bhup Singh of Guler (r.1790-1813, d.1826).

Guler, c.1830.

Presented by Michael Archer, December 1975.

Inscribed on reverse by or at the instance of the dealer Radha Krishan Bharany: ‘Raja Goverdhen Chand enjoying music, lying with his Queen Rani Goverdhana on a cot placed on the cross of two streams. Maid servant pressed His Foot asleep’; a’ takri’ inscription gives similar information; Archer Collection number ‘A-33.’

Gouache with gold; blue and pink borders.

232 by 166 mm; page 301 by 219 mm.

Raja Bhup Singh lies on a bed over a stream in a garden with his rani beside him. A maid sleeps at the foot of the bed, and two musicians are playing.

Note: Purchased by W.G. Archer from Radha Krishan Bharany, Patna, December 1941. A later and cruder version of the Guler picture of c.1795-1800 (reproduced and discussed W.G. Archer (1952), pl.33) where the subject was misidentified as Raja Govardhan Singh (1741-73) of Guler on the basis of the dealer’s inscription on the present picture. Later it was re-identified for M.S. Randhawa as Bhup Singh. This re-identification was made by Raja Baldev Singh (1920-59) of Guler to whom W.G. Archer (1952), pl.33 was shown. For its key significance in reconstructing Guler painting, ‘see’ W.G. Archer (1952A), 43, and W.G. Archer (1973), Guler no.57 and related example 57(1).