Palace being prepared for festivities, 19th century ::

Details

Other Title: Jaipur palace being prepared for festivities
Place where the work was made: Jaipur → Rajasthan → India
Period: Rajput circa 1500 - 1947 → India
Date: 19th century
Media categories: Miniature , Painting , Watercolour
Materials used: opaque watercolour on paper
Dimensions: 21.8 x 30.7 cm image; 28.5 x 37.5 cm sheet
Signature & date: Not signed. Not dated.
Credit: Bequest of Mr J. Kitto 1986
Location: Not on display
Accession number: 133.1986
Copyright: Reproduction requests
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About

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.

Places

Where the work was made

Jaipur

Exhibition history

Shown in 2 exhibitions

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

Bibliography

Referenced in 3 publications

Jim Masselos, Divine and courtly life in Indian painting, Sydney, 1991. cat.no. 4.5
Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Mughals and Maharajas: The Miniature Paintings of Courtly India', Sydney, 2003, 44 (colour illus.).
Haema Sivanesan, Indian painting, 'Indian Painting', verso of poster., Sydney, 2001. cat.no. 2.32