The painting currently resides at the National Gallery of Victoria,Melbourne,India.
Location History:
The painting was created in 1765 in the Mewar Court,Udaipur,Rajasthan and was brought to National Gallery of Victoria in 1980.
The artist Bakhta or Bagta was a painter who worked in the court of Devgarh under the ruler Rawat Jaswant Singh. He worked on various themes like painting court scenes,equestrian Portraits,celebration times,large topographic maps and even hunting themes. Bagta was the lead artist in the Devgarh court,his painting was related closely to sub-style of painting closely related to the Udaipur court tradition. His career started in the 1756 and continued into the 19th century with his last recorded painting in 1814. His children further continued his painting legacy by being the court artists in the court of Rawats of Devgarh.
This particular art piece of Bakhta goes by names like "Maharana Ari Singh in his durbar" or "Maharan Ari Singh in a durbar on his birthday" which portrays Maharana Ari Singh in his durbar sitting on a throne while on the upper right of the painting in the palace of Udaipur smoking a hookah while his courtiers are sitting and standing symmetrically,wearing colourful clothes and turbans. Musicians are playing morchang and dholak while women are dancing and singers are singing to impress their Maharana.
Bakhta used bright colours like green,red,gold and white to depict a vibrant,joyous mood and atmosphere through the painting. The precise detailing of carpets,architecture,motifs and detailed expressions highlights the Mewar School of Art.
It's perhaps the earliest works of Bakhta and is also a very important cultural and historical evidence of the great Indian artistic work and craftsmanship
Bakhta has presented the viewer with a glimpse of what royal life at an Indian court was like during Maharana Ari Singh II's reign in the 18th century. The painting is political and symbolic, exhibiting the power and authority of the ruler. Bakhta has included many elements such as entertainment and architecture, giving the viewer a true insight into court culture, where the figures each hold their own story. Bakhta has given them their own narrative.