Shepard & Robertson, Durbar at Bharatpur, 1862

Commercial photographers also fed the European fascination with the exotic splendours of Indian princely life. This photograph of the young Maharaja of Bharatpur Jaswunt Singh, aged about eleven when this picture was taken, is described as 'an excellent illustration of a native independent chieftain of the highest class, in his durbar or court. The young prince sits in the centre of his guddee or royal seat, which is of velvet richly embroidered with gold.Behind him are four servants, two of whom.hold merchauls of peacocks' feathers, and the chouree of yak's tail hair.In two rows on either side of the Rajah, the nobles and sirdars of the state are seated, who may be relatives, or officers in various parts of the state services.'