Page 180 - Eye of the beholder

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The Prince’s sartorial attire is different and distinct, as he wears a long sleeved black coat an off white cloth around his waist with a gold border; that is further held at the waist by a kamar bandh in reddish orange, one fold of which hangs in front in multiple delicate folds with gold tassels finish. The lower garment covering his legs is skirt like and printed in stripes of red and black against a cream background. The Prince does not sit astride on the saddle but sideways with both his feet on one side suggested by one foot placed in the stirrup and other briefly indicated next to it. The jewellery adorning his body is constituted of simple pearls in different sizes as strands that are around his neck and chest. On his right shoulder he carries a bow and an arrow. As visually presented by the artist, the Prince is not very tall and is ruddy complexioned.
The attendant walking besides the Prince and carrying his hookah is painted with a dark complexion and his features are similar to the Prince, except the nose which is sharp and aquiline and there is no side burn but a loose curly strand of hair that has escaped from his turban. The latter is simple with solid orange colour and inter twined with stripes and floral pattern. His sartorial attire is not evident placed as he is next to the horse, the legs are bare and on his feet he wears brown leather juties. The top of the elaborately designed hookah can be seen having the shape of a filigreed dome with a sharp notch to lift it.
The background is simple and unattractive as there is no suggestion of nature or architectural structures to provide the situ for the riding Prince. There is also no indication of the sky but the upper part of the painting has fading yellow and green stripes, while the ground on which the Prince is seen is suggested by three or four horizontal strokes.
The genre of portrait painting rendered by the artist of both the Prince and the horse has been captured admirably well. By not detailing the background with landscape or any other forms, he has placed the emphasis on the rider and the horse. The horse in a happy trot carries the Prince nonchalantly who is busy smoking the hookah without the fear of the stallion taking off into a gallop.
RAJASTHANI FOLIO
A folio or a page from an illustrated manuscript has the text occupying little more than half the page written in a Hindi dialect which as a language from the 15t to 19th century had more than twenty dialects, and it was only in the 19th century hat it was firmed to the written script with alphabets that we have the familiarity today.
The border of the folio has floral decoration interspersed with stems and leaves, the former rendered in colours of brown and yellow. The Hindi script is written in a neat and consistent hand occupying more than half the page. The rest of the space has the visual representation of a Raja in conversation with a group of courtiers, a Brahmin and young princesses. Behind the Raja stands a general perhaps; since he is holding a shield and a sword. Next to him is an attendant with morchal in his hand. In the background is the representation of a thick forest as indicated by the trees and beyond that a river flowing by with vegetation along its bank.