
Mark Rasmussen
International Director
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Sold for US$21,250 inc. premium
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International Director
Seated before the 'sun window' of the City Palace of Udaipur, the corpulent ruler squeezes into his throne-like high stool. He is entertained by an all-female musical ensemble and comforted by the wafted long peacock-feather fan and gilded huqqa. The performing group's star singer is dressed in a striking gold angarkha, suggesting her possible celebrity, while everyone else wears tiger orange garments that beautifully unifies the overall composition.
This appears to be a favored venue by both Jagat Singh and Ari Singh for intimate settings. The 'sun window', with its multi-colored stained glass and an upper gallery of white jali panels, are seen throughout their paintings. A closely related composition with the ruler conversing with two sardars, dated 1745-50, is in the National Gallery of Victoria (Topsfield, Paintings from Rajasthan, Melbourne 1980, no.121). Maharana Ari Singh II receiving his sardars by Bhima dated 1764 is arranged in a similar tight composition (ibid., no.166). A work signed by the artist Sukh Luhar dated 1750 also shows the ruler on a similar golden throne from a rotated perspective (Topsfield, Court Painting at Udaipur, Zurich, 1990, p.187, no.162).
Provenance
Private California Collection