This painting has been reidentified by Catherine Glynn and Ellen Smart (1997) as depicting Maharaja Jai Singh of Amber (r. 1621-1667; right) enthroned with Maharaja Gaj Singh of Marwar (r. 1619-1638; left). It was previously thought to represent Gaj Singh and the Mughal Prince Shah Shuja, despite the correct identifications given in the Hindi inscriptions above them.
Jai Singh assumed the throne at the age of twelve during the reign of Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-16217). He later supported Prince Aurangzeb in a successful bid for the throne and served him with distinction by subduing the Maratha ruler Shivaji (r. 1674-1680). In 1666, however, Jai Singh incurred the wrath of Emperor Aurangzeb (r. 1658-1707) by failing to capture the Bijapur Fort. Aurangzeb then conspired with Jai Singh’s youngest son to award him the throne of Amber over his elder brother if he would poison his father in 1667.
Gaj Singh ruled Marwar, one of the leading Rajput courts in Rajasthan. In 1615 he attended Jahangir’s court and fought against Prince Khurram, the future Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658), when Khurram rebelled against the emperor in 1622-1624. Gaj Singh, reconciled with Shah Jahan, was appointed governor of the Deccan in 1633. He died in Agra in 1638.
The floral border with gold flowering plants, along with a variant on the reverse with a vacant space for calligraphy, corroborates the Amber attribution based on comparison with other known folios from the Amber Album.
See also M.2001.24.
