Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Title

Palace being prepared for festivities

Other titles:

Jaipur palace being prepared for festivities

Place of origin

Jaipur → Rajasthan → India

Period

Rajput circa 1500 - 1947 → India

Year

19th century

Media categories

Miniature, Painting, Watercolour

Materials used

opaque watercolour on paper

Dimensions

21.8 x 30.7cm image; 28.5 x 37.5cm sheet

Signature & date

Not signed. Not dated.

Credit

Bequest of Mr J. Kitto 1986

Accession number

133.1986

Location

Not on display

Further information

This rather late painting from the court of Jaipur is unusual in representing an everyday scene from courtly life rather than the highly romanticised or religious themes common to Rajput miniatures. It shows a courtier directing the servants of the court as they lay out carpets for an event, perhaps a performance or the daily 'darbar', or audience, with the maharajah. It is interesting to note the attempt at using perspective and the documentary style of the composition, which relinquish previously accepted pictorial conventions.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.44.

Bibliography (3)

Jim Masselos, Divine and Courtly Life in Indian Painting 1991, Domain, 1991. cat.no. 4.5

Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 'Mughals and Maharajas: The Miniature Paintings of Courtly India', Domain, 2003, 44 (colour illus.).

Haema Sivanesan, Indian Painting 2001, 'Indian Painting', verso of poster., Sydney, 2001. cat.no. 2.32

Exhibition history (2)

Divine and Courtly Life in Indian Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Oct 1991–08 Jan 1992

Indian Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 06 Apr 2001–11 Jun 2001