A princess standing beneath a sapling
Life Story
The Ajmer school lasted from 1630-1800. Its style can be direct, almost folkish. It is thought that Ajmer artists passed their skill in painting elephants on to Kotah – a school that became famous for painting wonderful elephants.
The small state of Sarwar was a fiefdom of Ajmer. Sarwar paintings used a lot of strong lines with muted colours which could give a rather child-like effect. The princess, shown in the posture of an Indian tree-nymph, is probably waiting for her lover (a popular theme in Hindu poems). Her Mughal style dress includes a white jama top over pink pyjamas and an orange shawl. The background is very stylised with indication of a tree-topped knoll in the background and a lotus pond in the front.
Description taken from the ‘Art From The Indian Sub-Continent In The Sainsbury Centre’ catalogue by Margaret A. Willey (Sainsbury Centre, UEA, 1995).
Provenance
Donated to the Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia in 1973 as part of the original gift.
Not on display
Title/Description: A princess standing beneath a sapling
Born: 1650 c. - 1699 c.
Measurements: h 196 x w 94 mm (frame: 344 x 232 x 20 mm)
Accession Number: 539
Historic Period: 17th century - Late
Credit Line: Donated by Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, 1973
