This Gallery displays a large and magnificent collection of Miniature Painting; and perhaps the finest collection of paintings from the Marwar School.

Court painting in Jodhpur developed greatly developed during 17th Century through the association of Marwar's Rulers with the Mughal Emperors. During the 18th and 19th centuries it evolved into a distinctive Rajasthani style, combining Mughal naturalism with local folk style and bold colours.

Jodhpur paintings later took on an even more exuberant turn under Maharaja Man Singh (1803-43), and dozens of paintings of the ruler, his nobles and his ladies were made. Most of these are densely packed scenes of festivity or processions, but Man Singh was also a devoutly religious man, and he commissioned many paintings of his gurus and himself at worship, and religious texts like the Ramayana, the Durga Charitra and the Shiva Rahasya, as well as more obscure texts dealing with Nath philosophies. These imposing paintings often show great imagination in dealing with such large surfaces, often using unexpected changes of scale, division of the page into smaller sections, even showing successive stages of a story on one page.

MINIATURE PAINTING: ENTERTAINMENT
Marwar developed a sophisticated and distinct School of Miniature Painting and this eighteenth-century painting is one of the finest examples of the synthesis of Mughal and Jodhpur art. Every court had it’s own musicians and dancers, and this is a typical night of entertainment at the fort. These were the Maharaja’s favorite entertainers; but they were more than entertainers…The nights were often long…

The twenty-sixth Rathore Ruler, Maharaja Abhaya Singh, sits on a wooden throne elaborately decorated with inlaid jewels. His halo is a Mughal painting influence; in fact, a device originally borrowed from the European tradition.

The Maharaja has his dagger at his side, and at his feet are bowls of sumptuous things to eat. The carafes on the red tray hold the sweetest of wines…another Mughal introduction. Notice the intricate pattern of the floor covering…

The artist, Dalchand, came from a tradition of Delhi painters. He trained in the Mughal imperial workshops and came to Jodhpur in search of Abhaya Singh’s patronage. Do look carefully at the detailing in the fabrics the women wear. It’s his superior eye for detail, his sophisticated sense of color and the delicacy of his drawing that made Dalchand one of the most famous artists of the Marwar School.

MINIATURE PAINTING: DURGA


This miniature painting illustrates an ancient story from a Hindu religious text. Durga; she’s the Goddess with many arms riding a lion, on the right; is fighting the demon forces of Mahishasur. He’s the horned buffalo sitting on his throne in his palace.

Demons had supernatural powers. The dancers in the courtyard have probably been transformed into humans for the purpose of entertaining the Demon God.

The painting symbolizes the age-old rivalry between demons and gods, evil and good, right and wrong...Durga is the Goddess of Destruction and She always succeeds in her mission to slay the forces of evil…

The Rathores, who often went to battle against the forces of evil, worship Mataji, their Mother Goddess, who’s an incarnation of Durga.

MINIATURE PAINTING: DIWALI
This image is of the twenty-seventh Rathore Ruler, Maharaja Ram Singh… Abhaya Singh’s son, in fact…and a fellow clansman sitting under an embroidered canopy. The Maharaja sits on a carpet with his sword in front of him. He’s smoking scented tobacco. His hookah has an enameled base and is decorated with images of women.

Notice the way the Maharaja holds the wrist of his clansman as he accepts the drink offered. This is the traditional way of according respect…Spread out in front of them is a tray with carafes of wine and bowls of barbecued meat, the latter making up much of Rajput cuisine.

The night is ablaze with fire-works celebrating the Festival of Lights known as Diwali, celebrated throughout India and Southeast Asia. It honors the triumphant homecoming of Rama; like Krishna an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the Hindu holy Trinity. Rama is worshipped as the embodiment of righteousness.
The festival also marks the start of the New Year on the Hindu lunar calendar; and is the first day of winter…So the Maharaja and his clansman’s block-printed robes are of darker hue…

MINIATURE PAINTING : POLO

Maharaja Man Singh (1803-43) is the bearded figure on the right, playing polo with his favorite lady companions. Women were an integral part of royal entertainments and sporting life. You will notice; there are no other men in attendance…so the ladies have no need for their veils of Purdah.
The crescent-shaped hems of the skirts and the almond-shaped eyes are characteristic of the nineteenth-century Maharaja Maan Singh Period.

They’re all riding Marwari horses; a breed indigenous to Marwar. These horses are easily recognizable from their inwardly curving elegant ears and are famous for their endurance and bravery in war.

Equestrian traditions and the Rathores are inseparable. Polo has been played in Jodhpur since Mughal times. In fact, the riding breeches known as ‘jodhpurs’ were designed here and have subsequently become popular throughout the world.
Polo is still played in Jodhpur, and the Crown Prince; is himself the captain of the Royal Team.