Drawing of the "Koh-I-Noor Diamond"

Art Historical Context

Behold the exquisite *Drawing of the "Koh-Noor Diamond"* (1851), a masterful watercolor and gold paint rendering over graphite by R. S. Garrard & Co., the esteemed London jewelers to Queen Victoria. Measuring 9¾ × 12⅞ inches, this delicate sheet captures the legendary gem—known as the "Mountain of Light"—in shimmering detail, its facets aglow with metallic highlights that mimic the diamond's legendary sparkle. Created amid the British Empire's expansion, the drawing coincides with the Koh-i-Noor's controversial transfer from Punjab's Maharaja Duleep Singh to the British Crown in 1849. Garrard & Co., royal silversmiths and jewelers, likely produced this as a preparatory study or presentation piece before recutting the 186-carat stone in 1852 to enhance its brilliance. Classified under ornament and architecture in the Met's Drawings and Prints department, it exemplifies 19th-century jeweler's draftsmanship, blending technical precision with artistic allure. This rarity from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection offers a window into imperial jewel history and the fusion of craft and conquest, reminding us how art immortalizes treasures of power and beauty.

About the Artist

R. S. Garrard & Co. (British) · 1730 –1909

British, founded 1730