{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1771093"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1771093/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1771093","accessionNumber":"IS.2-2024","objectType":"painting","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh wearing yellow seated on a golden throne on a palace terrace, halo around his head, figure standing behind waving fan.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"opaque watercolour on paper","categories":[{"text":"Sikhism","id":"THES48894"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES403801"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lahore","id":"x30874"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1839-1840","earliest":"1839-01-01","latest":"1840-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Christopher Scott in accordance with the wishes of his father, Thomas Scott.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"18.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"For related manuscript text see IS.2:2-2024.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"One of five portraits acquired by James Duncan Sim (1823-1888) from Shankarnath (1789-1858), the former court astrologer of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sim worked for the Indian Civil Service in Madras from 1842 to 1875. That the paintings belonged to Shankarnath is recorded in a note attached to the portrait of Sher Singh (IS.3-2024), thought to be in Sim’s writing. It states that the painting was ‘Received from M.R.R. Sunkanada Joheshee [Shankarnatha Joshi], a native of Travancore, for several years the Chief Astrologer at the court of Lahore, during Runjeet Sing, Cadagoo Sing and Shere Sing’s reigns.’ Shankarnath had returned from the Sikh court at Lahore to his home in Travancore, in south India. \r\n\r\nThe works were published as the ‘Joshi Shankar Nath portrait series’ in W. G. Archer’s book 'Paintings of the Sikhs', HMSO, V&A 1966 (pp. 33-4, 74, 130, 133, 167-8). From the content of Sim’s descriptions attached to the paintings, Archer deduced that he acquired the portraits from Shankarnath in 1844 and that they must have been painted five years earlier, c. 1839-40. Some of the portraits also have descriptions in a second hand, in Telegu and in English, which Archer suggested were written by the astrologer.\r\n\r\nJames Duncan Sim was the great-great-uncle of the donor's mother, who inherited the paintings.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, watercolour on paper, Lahore, c.1839-40. ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.2:1-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-23","recordCreationDate":"2024-01-16","availableToBook":false}}