Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Ranjit Singh (r.1801-1839), the first Sikh maharaja of the Panjab, is depicted riding on a white stallion with an attendant following behind holding a parasol, the age-old emblem of royalty, over his head. He is dressed entirely in yellow, which may indicate that the portrait depicts him at the time of the Spring Festival when everyone wore this colour. The unknown artist has discreetly indicated the scars on his face caused by the childhood smallpox which left him blind in his left eye.