Painting Details

Darbar Sahib

In most paintings of the Darbar Sahib complex, it is usually the focal point of the painting. In Schoefft's painting he has instead focused on Maharaja Ranjit Singh listening to the Scriptures as the primary visual focal point. Darbar Sahib appears in the distance adding a sense of context to the primary subject matter of the Maharaja at devotion.

Schoefft seems to have paid less attention to the architectural rendering of Darbar Sahib itself as the aspect ratio’s of the temple seem to be compressed with the building appearing narrower and taller than it is in real life.

During the summer months the temperatures in Amritsar can rise to as high as 40 °C. Shoeffts painting shows a canopy that had been erected along the length of the causeway leading to Darbar Sahib providing some welcomed shade for visitors.