Dost Mohammed begin received by Sher Singh in Lahore on his way to regain the throne of Kabul, c. 1845. Gouache, 49.8 x 84 cm.

Sher Singh, Ranjit Singh's successor, is shown entertaining Dost Mohammad, ruler of Afghanistan. In 1843, Sher Singh had aided the British in subduing Afghanistan and reinstating Dost Mohammad. When Sher Singh found the British mustering a huge army on the borders of his own territory, he decided it was time to make new alliances and forged a treaty himself with Dost Mohammad. This scene shows the mixture of Sikh, Islamic, and Hindu Cultures that prevailed in Punjab at the that time. (Courtesy of Narinder and Satinder Kapany.)