14 photos from the collection of Indian Maharajas, which 100 years dusted in the bins of the palace!

Maharaja Ram Singh II rules in the Indian principality of Jaipur in the middle of the century before last. Today the time of his reign is considered in those lands a golden age. One of the most enlightened lords of Jaipur, Ram Singh readily agreed to the protectorate of the British crown.

Maharaja abolished slavery in his lands, forbade Sati's cruel custom, according to which the widow was to die at the funeral pyre of her husband, and held many more minor but very important reforms.

Among other things, Ram Singh made a truly unique gift to the historians of the future. Prince-photographer, as his contemporaries called it, spent a lot of time capturing the culture of his kingdom in the ages!

Even the British noted that the Maharaja literally does not part with the camera. The man took pictures and showed it himself, spending hours in a private laboratory. Most often, Ram Singh's models were served by his numerous wives.

Most of the pictures Indian ruler made between 1857 and 1864 years. The collection of glass negatives ruler for more than a century lay untouched in one of the wings of his palace. When the photos finally fell into the hands of historians, they jumped to the ceiling with delight!

Fortunately, Rama Singh's collection was not limited to portraits of concubines. After numerous photographs of wives, photos of servants and dignitaries were sent. Below, for example, the senior caretaker of the harem of the ruler is sealed.

It was very difficult to make a self-portrait in those days. However, Ram Singh was a competent photographer enough to cope with such a task. In the photo below, he himself is recorded, the full-fledged ruler of Jaipur.

The ruler did not hesitate to photograph yogis and fakirs, who always had enough in his court. Personnel with these people in his collection are side by side with photographs of officials.

The solicitors, advisers and guests of Rama Singh knew perfectly well about the preferences of the prince-photographer and willingly posed for him. It is difficult to say whether they themselves received the pleasure of it, but who at that time would refuse to fulfill the whim of the all-powerful lord?

Group shots came out a little worse for the Maharaja. When there were several in the frame instead of one model, the shortcomings of the technology available at that time made photography very difficult. But, according to modern specialists, the Maharaja was a real professional!

Of course, Ram Singh never missed a chance to show the world the power of his soldiers. The pictures below were taken by the ruler in 1858 year.

On the first of them you can see fighters of personal, palace guard of the lord. On the second, one of the regiments of the regular army of the ruler of Jaipur is being built.

For historians, the photographs taken by Ram Singh became a kind of encyclopedia of the palace life of the Indian principality of the mid-19th century. The gift of the prince-photographer passed through the ages turned into a part of the country's cultural heritage. Scientists are happy, because thanks to these cadres, they had a unique opportunity to learn directly about the life of the Indian nobility of the past!

Source: Daily Mail

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