Processional Portrait of Prince Bhawani Sing of Sitamau, 1855 (gouache, silver, and gold on paper)

Prince Bhawani Singh (c. 1867-1885) of Sitamau (in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh), rides a magnificent charger colorfully festooned and protected by horse armor. The principal figures are each identified by Devangari inscriptions and on the reverse is a six-line git or song of praise for the prince. The monarch and his party are shown setting out on a royal hunting expedition. The type of painting is modeled on earlier Rajasthani equestrian portraits and demonstrates the extent to which traditional values of Rajput courtly life continued, in spite of British rule, well into the mid-nineteenth century.