Hand-painted photograph of Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh, with his suite, and the Maharaja of Benares, taken during the prince's tour of India in 1870. The Prince, seated at the centre, sits in-between two figures in Indian dress, both the Prince and the figure to the left hold hookahs. The three seated men are attended by 12 standing figures, in Western dress. Without inscription.



A photographic session during the prince's visit to Chukiah (the Maharaja of Benares's country hunting seat) is mentioned in Dr Fayrer's account of the Prince of Wales's visit to India in 1875-6. Fayrer writes, 'There was a large picture of the Duke of Edinburgh and his suite, painted from a photograph taken in 1870 at Chukiah, the Maharaja's country hunting seat, near Benares. Among them I recognised myself, represented with red hair and whiskers!' (p.83). Although this is not necessarily the same image, it does confirm that photographs were taken of the Duke while guest of the Maharaja during his visit between 17 and 21 January 1870.