Mehrangarh Fort Museum, Jodhpur

WEAPONRY

PAINTINGS

MARWAR PAINTING

Marwar, an arid kingdom on the edge of the great Thar Desert with Jodhpur as its capital, was the domain of the Rathore Dynasty. The Rathores nurtured in their courts a distinctive culture, expressed in the art, architecture, literature and music patronized by the Maharajas. Starting in the 18th century, Jodhpur fostered a flourishing painting atelier where artists produced thousands of miniature paintings that now form the royal collection. Among them are many large format folios depicting epic narratives that Jodhpur is well-known for. These were first developed by the atelier of Maharaja Vijai Singh (r. 1752-93)

ART AND ARTISTS 

Called a chitara in Marwar, Indian miniature painters rarely signed their works. Court records reveal that artists were employed on the regular payroll of the state and handsomely rewarded with cash, daily provisions and land grants. Knowledge of painting was often passed from father to son. Generations of artists from the same family worked at the Jodhpur court atelier. The family of Udairam chitara, whose work is displayed here, can be traced. His brother Akha, son Shivdas, and grandson were all Jodhpur court artists.

Maharaja Man Singh and the Zenana play polo

(By Shivdas Jodhpur, 1827)

Polo or chaugan was a popular sport among Jodhpur's royals and is often depicted in court painting. This work by Shivdas shows his patron Maharaja Man Singh playing polo with three of his queens or concubine as other members of the zenana watch. The players ride majestic Marwari horses, identifiable by their distinctive upturned ears. Faced with an unwieldy scene of action, the artist has elegantly arranged the four figures in space; using the polo sticks as a device to achieve symmetrical division of the arena. Within this arrangement, the Maharaja is given prominence by the use of a nimbus around his head.

It was made by "chitaro dalchand dilli ra ri kalam"-referring to the hand of Dalchand, a Mughal artist who arrived in Jodhpur from Delhi around 1724.

Maharaja Ram Singh celebrating Diwali with a companion
[By Shihab-ud-din ,(son of Abdullah Usta, Bikaner
Jodhpur, c.1750)]
Maharaja Ram Singh (r. 1749-51) is pictured in this painting celebrating Diwali with a male companion. As fireworks light up the sky behind him, Ram Singh, resplendent in a golden robe, drinks wine and smokes from a jeweled huqqa. Laid out before the ruler are dishes holding paan (betel),pomegranates and kebabs.
Diwali, the festival of lights, was an important event in the annual calendar of the Jodhpur court. On the day of Diwali, prayers were performed and the ruler met with his kinsmen and court officials who presented him with tributes. A grand dinner was hosted and the palaces were decorated with oil lamps.

ARTISTS AND TECHNIQUE

Artists in Jodhpur-Marwar worked in the miniature technique and used wasli -thick sheets of hand-made paper prepared by gluing together many thin layers. They used brushes made from squirrels' tails (some of which were so fine they were made from just one hair) and colours made from vegetable and mineral dyes.