THE MAHARAJA OF MEWAR AT PRAYER
Rajasthan, North Western India, mid-19th century

Opaque pigments, gold and silver on paper, the large horizontal composition depicting the Rajput ruler of Mewar and his court during a puja to Lord Krishna, the altar with the murti of the God playing the flute and his consorts in the centre of the painting flanked by two Brahmins officiating the prayer, the Maharaja seated on a velvet panel with large oval cushions on his sides placed over a Mughal-inspired summer floorspread with scrolling floral tendrils, behind the Maharaja the caste of the Brahmins, in front of him the ksatriyas (warriors) and behind them musicians and offering bearers, the scene taking place on a palatial terrace opposite a river animated by boats and fishes, the verso with an inscription in black ink Takri script, re-backed, mounted on a white cardboard frame, 38cm x 49.4cm excluding the frame.