Skip to main content
Lot 219

The Sikh devotee, Bhai Jaita, recovering the head of the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, after his execution
Punjab, by the artist Trilok Singh (1914-90), mid-20th Century

23 May 2023, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £5,120 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Islamic and Indian Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

The Sikh devotee, Bhai Jaita, recovering the head of the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, after his execution
Punjab, by the artist Trilok Singh (1914-90), mid-20th Century

oil on canvas, signed twice lower left and lower right
51 x 66.5 cm.

Footnotes

The painting depicts the scene after the martyrdom of the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur in Delhi, 1675.
It shows the Sikh devotee Bhai Jaita evading the Mughul guards at nightfall in Chandni Chowk, during a fierce storm to carry away the 'Sees' (head) of Guru Tegh Bahadur who had been executed earlier that day.
Bhai Jaita risking his own life made a treacherous journey to Punjab which took several days, upon where, Gobind Rai, the son of Guru Tegh Bahdur received him, and thus proceeded to Anandpur Sahib for the last rites.


Trilok Singh (1914-1990) was trained by and worked under the renowned Punjabi artist S. G. Thakur Singh (1890-1976). He began his apprenticeship in Calcutta in 1931 and had soon established his own studio. From patriotic works in the 1940s he moved on to Sikh and Punjabi subjects, both paintings and illustrations for various publications. For another work by the same artist depicting a scene from Sikh history, see the sale in these rooms, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 25th October 2022, lot 156.

Additional information