in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Ari Singh depicted with a radiating nimbus, a crescent moon to one side, holding a spear and mounted on a richly adorned brown horse, on a pale blue ground, verso with two lines of devanagari script, image 28 x 19.5cm., folio 38 x 27cm.

Inscriptions:

The upper inscription reads:

dikhana ji shri ar singh ji ri chabi kimat 9 – showing a likeness (or portrait) of Shri Ari Singh ji price 9

Lower inscription –

25 maharana ji shri ar singh ji - a further identification of the subject

Provenance:

Provenance: Formerly collection of the late Rudolf von Leyden (1908-1983), thence by descent.

Rudolf von Leyden is one of the best known exponents of modern Indian art in the mid-20th century. Born in Berlin, he moved to Bombay in 1932 to escape the Nazi regime at home and join his brother who was already working in the city. After working in advertising and publicity, he became more and more involved in the art world, becoming art critic for the Times of India, helping artists with practical and financial support and acting as curator and judge at artistic events.

Ari Singh was the Maharana of Mewar between 1762 and 1773, renowned for his uncontrollable temper. He seems to have had a typical fondness for portraiture and a comparable equestrian portrait is in the National Gallery of Victoria, AS186-1980.