A POLYCHROME-PAINTED RAJPUT COTTON BANNER
Rajasthan, North-Western India, 19th century

Of large rectangular shape, the vertically and horizontally joined hanging of white, plain weave, coarse cotton printed and brightly painted with a monumental, corpulent Rajput ruler facing right, heavily bejewelled and enthroned in the centre of the composition, holding a dagger in the right hand, and a lotus flower in the other, surveying his significant courtiers and generals, the ones in closer proximity of larger scale, the lower ranks located at a greater distance and in a smaller scale, including many registers of entertainers, animals, and mythical creatures, 148cm x 541cm.