Purtaub Singh--Artist: Eden, Emily Medium: Lithograph Date: 1844

This is a lithograph of plate 19 from Emily Eden's 'Portraits of the Princes and People of India'. After Ranjit Singh died in 1839, the Sikh nation descended into confusion and anarchy in the battles to establish his successor. His son Sher Singh finally ascended the throne in 1841, but was killed by some Sikh chieftains in a massacre at Lahore in September 1843. His young son Partap Singh was also killed.
In 1838, Ranjit Singh appointed Sher Singh to attend to the Governor General's entourage on its visit to the Sikh kingdom. Sher took Partap with him. Eden described Partap as "a boy of ten or twelve years old, of remarkably fine spirit and promise, with large expressive eyes, and manners which could be perfectly composed and dignified, or boyish and playful at will. He was a great favourite with the whole of the Governor-General's party."