Maharaja Ranjit Singh and members of his court

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the powerful founder of the first unified Sikh kingdom, is seen at the center of this group portrait with his sons and grandson. Even though there are several seated figures, Ranjit Singh stands out as the most important person in the painting. He is larger in scale than the others, is positioned near the painting’s top, and is distinguished through subtle elements such as details of jewelry, color of robe, the white beard, and prayer beads; he is also the focus of deference by the two standing figures at left. The image presents Ranjit Singh as a wise and pious elder, rather than a fierce warrior or skilled administrator.