Terms and conditions of use
Maharana Sangram Singh II hunting blackbuck with cheetah at Nahar Magra
(c. 1725-1730)
- Medium
- opaque watercolour and gold paint on paper
- Measurements
- 43.0 × 48.2 cm (image) 46.3 × 52.0 cm (sheet)
- Place/s of Execution
- Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Inscription
- inscribed in brush and ink on reverse (in Devanagari script) c.
- Accession Number
- AS93-1980
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1980
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation - Gallery location
- Level 1, NGV International
- About this work
-
Hunting was not only a recreational activity but also an important aspect of Rajput ceremonial and religious culture. In peacetime, orchestrated hunts could satisfy Rajput warrior instincts while providing opportunities to make sacrificial offerings to the Hindu deity of creation, Shiva. This ritual would ensure an ongoing harmonious existence with nature and facilitate neccessities of life such as seasonal rains, healthy newborn children and a kingdom secure from intruders. The cultural significance of hunting is most graphically displayed in large panoramic tamasha (depictions of court life, religious festivals and other royal activities) scenes, which are some of the most fascinating paintings produced by the Rajput courts.