RAJA HIRA SINGH DOGRA ENJOYING A NAUTCH, 19TH CENTURY

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, depicting Raja Hira Singh seated on a terrace and enjoying a nautch performed by elegant dressed dancers with musicians, ruled in gold and flower decorated borders.

CATALOGUE NOTE Hira Singh (1816-1844), prime minister of the Sikh Kingdom of Lahore from 17 September 1843 to 21 December 1844. He was the eldest son of Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, an influential courtier, who introduced him to his patron Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Maharaja took very favourably to the young boy, bestowing upon him the title of Raja in 1828 and, then, proclaiming him Farzand-i-Khas, (a favourite son). He granted him numerous jagirs (properties) which in total amounted to nearly five lakhs rupees (Rs500,000) annually. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was grooming his grandson Kunwar Naunihal Singh to succeed him as the next Maharaja of Lahore and his Prime Minister Raja Dhian Singh Dogra was grooming his son Hira Singh to be the prime minister. 43 by 32 cm.