Portrait of Maharaja Savant Singh with Consort, Bani Thani

This painting attributed to the well-known artist Nihal Chand belongs to the Kishangarh school of Rajasthani painting, which flourished under Maharaja Savant Singh. Savant Singh was also popular as a poet and devotee of Krishna, and is said to have written under the pen name Nagari Das. During his reign, paintings revolved around devotion of Krishna, romantic love and idealised beauty. Nihal Chand is regarded as the most important painter of this period. Bani Thani, Savant Singh's beloved consort was herself a poet. It is said that she became closely associated with the idealistic form of female beauty in Kishangarh. The painting depicts Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani seated together on a terrace. Savant Singh is depicted wearing a 'maroonish' robe with a golden halo around his head, and Bani Thani is adorned in an elegant green garment. They seem to be engaged in a conversation. A few women attendants stand behind the ruler, while another woman is depicted in the background in a small white pavilion. Behind the green garden lies a white fortified city beneath the red horizon. A beautiful floral border in red and golden encases the painting. The importance in the painting lies in the depiction of Savant Singh and Bani Thani through Radha-Krishna devotional tradition, in which earthly romantic love becomes a metaphor for divine love. Savant Singh's association with Krishna can be recognised by his posture and the presence of halo, wheras Bani Thani is depicted with the qualities of Radha. This painting consists of elongated figures and postures, details in facial features and landscape which are the characteristic features of the Kishangarh school of art. It is said that Bani Thani's depiction which includes her elongated face, arched eyebrows and large almond-shaped eyes later became the standard representation of feminine beauty in Rajasthani paintings. Nihal Chand has thus used his skills to depict the scene into an idealised courtly and devotional world, merging the themes of royalty, romantic love and Krishna bhakti.