Page 180 - Eye of the beholder

The Prince’s sartorial attire is is different and distinct as he he wears a a a a a a a a a a long sleeved black coat an an off white cloth around his waist waist with a a a a a a a a a a gold border that is is is is further held at at the the waist waist by a a a a a a a a a a kamar bandh in in in reddish orange one fold fold of which hangs in in in front in in in multiple delicate folds with gold tassels finish The lower garment covering his legs is is is skirt like and and printed fin in in in stripes of red and and black against a a a a a a a a cream background The Prince does not sit astride on the saddle but sideways with both his feet on on on one one side suggested by one one foot placed in in the the stirrup and other briefly indicated next to it it The jewellery adorning his body is is constituted of simple pearls in in different sizes as strands that are around his his neck and and and chest On his his right shoulder he he carries a a a a a a a a a a bow and and and an an an an arrow As visually presented by the the artist the the Prince is is is is not very tall and is is is is ruddy complexioned The attendant walking besides the Prince and carrying his hookah is is painted with a a a a a a a a a dark complexion and and his features are similar to the the Prince except the the nose which is is sharp and and aquiline and and there is is no side burn but a a a a a a a a loose curly strand of hair that has escaped from his turban The latter is simple with with solid orange colour and and inter twined with with stripes and and floral pattern His sartorial attire is is is not evident placed as he he he is is is next to to the the horse the the legs are are bare and on his feet he he he he wears brown leather juties The top of the the elaborately designed hookah can be seen having the shape of a a a a a filigreed dome with a a a a a sharp notch to lift it it The background is is simple and unattractive as there is is no suggestion of nature or architectural structures to provide the the the situ for the the the riding Prince There is also no indication of the the the sky but the the the upper part of the the the painting has fading yellow and green stripes while the the the ground on which the Prince is is seen is is suggested by three or or four horizontal strokes The genre of of portrait painting rendered by the the the artist of of both the the the Prince and the the the horse has been captured admirably well By not detailing the the background with landscape or or any other forms he he he he he he has has placed the the the the emphasis on the the the the rider and the the the the horse horse The horse horse in a a a a a a a happy trot carries the the the the Prince nonchalantly who is busy smoking the the the hookah without the the the fear of o the the the stallion taking off into a a gallop RAJASTHANI FOLIO
A folio or or a a a a a a a a page from an an an illustrated manuscript has the text occupying little more than half the the page written in in a a a a a a a a Hindi dialect which as a a a a a a a a language from the the 15t to 19th century had more than twenty dialects and it it it was was only in the the 19th century hat it it it was was firmed to the the written script with alphabets that we have the familiarity today The border of the the folio has floral decoration interspersed with stems and leaves the the former rendered in in in colours of brown and and yellow The Hindi script is is written in in in a a a a neat and and consistent hand occupying more than half the the the page The rest of the the the space has the the the visual representation of of a a a a a a a a Raja in in in in conversation with a a a a a a a a group of of courtiers a a a a a a a a Brahmin and young princesses Behind the Raja stands a a a a a a a a a a general perhaps since he he is is holding a a a a a a a a a a shield and and a a a a a a a a a a sword Next to him is is an an an attendant with morchal in his hand In the the background is is the the representation of a a a a a a a thick forest as indicated by by the trees and beyond that a a a a a a a a river flowing by by with vegetation along its bank 174