A Sikh akali-Nihang with his wife and child
Punjab, probably Lahore, circa 1840watercolour on paper, inner margins ruled in gold, red and blue, numbered 45 lower right
184 x 222 mm.注脚For a painting with a very similar depiction of this subject, see the sale in these rooms, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 14th June 2012, lot 304.

The Akalis were a group of Sikh zealots, distinguished by their blue clothing and conical turbans (dastaar boonga) on which were hung steel quoits, as seen here. As well as being known for their religious zealotry (they claimed to have been instituted as a body by Guru Govind Singh) they went about heavily armed and were quick to take offence. See W. G. Archer, Paintings of the Sikhs, London 1966, pp. 155-157, for various European impressions of the group.