RUDOLF SWOBODA | A MUSSALMAN SEPOY IN HH MAHARAJA SRINAGAR’S INDIAN REGIMENT, 23 YEARS OLD

Private Collection, London 

Sotheby’s New York, June 1996, lot 543

I. Kiralfy, Official Catalogue of the Empire of India Exhibition, Earl's Court, London, J. J. Keliner & Co., London, 1895, p. 187 

Rudolf Swoboda was a 19th-century Austrian painter, born in Vienna who studied art under his uncle, renowned Orientalist Leopold Carl Müller between 1878 and 1884.

Swoboda is best known for his work commissioned by Queen Victoria between 1885 and 1892. In 1886, she first commissioned him to paint a group of Indian artisans who had been brought to Windsor as part of the Golden Jubilee preparations. Impressed with his prowess, she then commissioned him to travel to India. He is known to have been paid £300 as travelling expenses and was given clear instructions. 'The Sketches Her Majesty wishes to have – are of the various types of the different nationalities. They should consist of heads of the same size as those already done for The Queen, and also small full lengths, as well as sketches of landscapes, buildings, and other scenes. Her Majesty does not want any large pictures done at first but thinks that perhaps you could bring away material for making them should they eventually be wished for.’ (https://www.rct.uk/collection/403826/bakshiram)

The current lots fit Queen Victoria’s brief exactly. Both works were exhibited in the Empire of India Exhibition that took place at the Earls Court in 1895.