By a Punjab artist, Lahore, c.1850

This magnificent painting depicts Maharajah Sher Singh of the Punjab and his son Partap Singh riding on elephants with royal umbrellas in a procession with his court and retainers. In the background is the Guru Granth Sahib being carried on an elephant with an attendant waving a chauri along with the Maharajah's English carriage and cannon.

Identifiable figures in the howdah of the third elephant are the generals Sham Singh Atariwala and Tej Singh Bahadur, and in the fourth; Raja Dhian Singh, Sher Singh's supporter and Wazir.

Maharajah Sher Singh‘s soldierly bearing made him a natural leader of the Khalsa army of the Sikh Kingdoms. He loved hunting and hawking, and devoted attention to cultivating European interests and hobbies in the company of foreigners serving at the Sikh Court. However, he along with his son would be murdered by the Sindhanwalia faction on 15 September 1843.

Their early death came as a result of the intrigue and tensions within the Royal Court, which were encouraged by the British, and would eventually result in the annexation of the Sikh Kingdoms in 1849, followed by the exile to Britain of his youngest brother, Maharajah Duleep Singh.

Add.Or.5575

Image © Reproduced with the permission of the British Library