Portrait of Thakur Utham Ram

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Like many portraits of the Rajput elite, this depiction of Thakur Utham Ram shows him with objects that denote his status. He reclines on a bulbous cushion and smokes an elaborate silver bidriware hookah painted with applied silver; even the complex floral designs typical of this refined metalwork are shown. He wears elaborate jewels, displays his sword, and sits on carpets rendered in great detail. Jhilai was an important feudatory state of Jaipur that was in line for dynastic succession to the throne if heirs from the Jaipur ruler were lacking.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art