New York Private Collection.

Rawat Dulai Singh a courtier from a thikana of Mewar stands in a formal profile. His left hand holds a single fragrant blossom and his other hand touching a katar (fist dagger) tucked into his waistband. He wears an embroidered Mꦛughal-style pagri (headgear) with a white band and a white muslin diaphanous jama. He is depicted against a Mughal-like verdigris blue-green background rising to a strip of light blue sk𒅌y. A hint of dark ground at his feet connects him to the solid earth.

The image of a rul✅er enjoying the scent of a small blossom while holding a weapon is a trope in Indian painting and was much favored at Rajput courts like Udaipur. It signifies an ideal ruler who is equally sensitive and martial - one who could take time to appreciate the refined fragrance of a flower - but is prepared to use deadly force against any adversary if provoked.

This elegant portrait was likely created 🦄at the Royal Udaipuri painting workshops early in, or just prior to, the reign of Maharana Ari Singh (b. 1724-1773). Close visual examination reveals remarkably fine lines in the down-turned mustache, side whiskers and tiny hairs curling along the sideburns and neck - as well as the applications of crackly gold ornamentation with nearly-microscopic tooled lines and dots - all executed in a clear and confident hand. The work is inscribed at the top and though not signed or dated it is painted in what could be considered the highest degree of refinement extant from the Mewar royal atelier's production during the mid 18th century.

The present painting was created in a period when superb quality works were being produced in the royal Mewar atelier by artists Bhopa, Kesu Ram, Bhima and others in their circle who surely collaborated on portraits such as this within close proximity to each other. T🐻he present painting is among the highest quality works produced by that workshop and may be attributable to the circle of Kesu Ram and his colleagues - who rank among the Rana’s greatest masters. It is a highly refined Mewar portrait.