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This painting depicts Maharana
Sangram Singh with a
yogi
. The
yogi
,
seated on a tiger skin, is depicted
with a nimbus larger than that of
the ruler, which indicates his higher
status. His right hand is in the
gyan
mudra
denoting that he is imparting
knowledge to the young ruler,
while his left hand holds a rosary.
A crescent moon hovers near the
yogi
giving him an almost Shiva‒like
appearance.
The ruler is shown lower on the
hierarchy, hands in supplication,
seated on a plain, white floor‒cloth,
which echoes the gravity of the
occasion. Although dressed in regal
finery, the Maharana does not have
an entourage, and only one person
attends upon him. To highlight this
hierarchy, the bolster, a symbol of
sovereignty, has been provided to
the
yogi
and not to the ruler.
The background is left bare, and
two flat colours are used to convey
the gravitas of the scene, in which
it is the three figures who are of
importance. Even the formal garden
composition has been dispensed
of, in order to create a dialogue
between temporal and spiritual
power.
For a detailed discussion on
Maharana Sangram Singh II,
including hunting scenes and
meeting with ascetics, refer to
Andrew Topsfield, “Sangram Singh II
and the Great Tamasha (1710 ‒ 34),”
Court Painting at Udaipur: Art under
the Patronage of the Maharanas
of Mewar,
Zürich: Artibus Asiae
Publishers, 2001, pp. 141 – 172.
20
MAHARANA SANGRAM
SINGH WITH A HOLY MAN
MEWAR, CIRCA 1720
Inscribed in Nagari at the top and
stamped ‘Khajanchi Kala Bhawan Bikaner
(Rajasthan)’ on the reverse
Gouache on paper heightened with gold
Image: 9 x 6.25 in (22.9 x 15.9 cm)
Folio: 10.5 x 7.5 in (27.2 x 19.5 cm)
Rs 6,00,000 ‒ 8,00,000
$ 8,960 - 11,945
NON‒EXPORTABLE
REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
PROVENANCE
The Motichand Khajanchi Collection
In keeping with the later Mewar
school tradition of depicting the
ruler in leisure, this candid portrait
shows Maharana Sangram Singh
presenting a pearl necklace to a lady.
Mughal influences can be seen in
the formal, symmetrical garden with
a central pond in the foreground.
The stark green background, with
birds aloft in the darkening sky,
suggests dusk. In contrast, both
the figures are richly bedecked with
jewellery and fine clothing which
is masterfully detailed. Sangram
Singh’s “...eye is narrow and the raja
preferred a thin moustache giving
prominence to the beard. His head
gear is unusually tight‒fitting to serve
as a royal emblem.” (Ratan Parimoo,
NC Mehta Collection Volume II,
Rajasthani, Central Indian, Pahari
and Mughal Paintings
, Ahmedabad:
GujaratMuseumSociety, 2013, p. 32)
The Maharana’s status is formalised
by the halo surrounding his face,
and the sword he holds. Even in a
sensitive moment such as this, the
symbols of power are a necessary
part of the painting tradition with a
formalised iconographic vocabulary.
19
MAHARANA SANGRAM SINGH
PRESENTING A NECKLACE TO A LADY
MEWAR, CIRCA 1730
Inscribed in Nagari ‘Maharana Sri Sangram Singhji ki
sabi ne puwarji ki...’ on the reverse
Gouache on paper heightened with gold
Image: 9.75 x 6.25 in (25.2 x 16.2 cm)
Folio: 11.75 x 8.25 in (30.4 x 21.4 cm)
Rs 15,00,000 ‒ 20,00,000
$ 22,390 - 29,855
NON‒EXPORTABLE
REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
PROVENANCE
The Motichand Khajanchi Collection