Jagat Singh hunting

Following the Mewar rulers some of Thikana chiefs also commissioned their own hunting scenes to be painted. Rawat Jagat Singh, portrayed in this painting, must be a ruler of a small Thikana of Mewar probably of Kanod, situated about 60 kms south east of Udaipur. The over-all atmosphere of the painting is one of the magra (hunting ground) seen in Udaipur paintings of hunting.

It is a night scene, and the forest is cleverly painted by the artist in bluish grey colour instead of the usual green. A vast forest, full of variegated trees is bordered by a range of hills, painted across the entire horizon on top. One big hill in the foreground, provides the facility of keeping a watch over the movements of the tiger from a height, to the hunter accompanying the Rawat. Rawat Jagat Singh is seated on the machan (shooting platform) aiming at the unsuspecting tiger who has pounced on the bait. The Rawat has folded his jama and tucked it at the waist to avoid any sudden disturbance, while he is shooting. A big machan, erected high up on the trees is occupied by the Rawat and his two attendants seated behind him. The Rawat of course is on a special white cloth laid for him, as mark of distinction. Typical of the narrative skills of the Mewari artists, the progression of the tiger is depicted in continuous narration. He is entering the area from the lower right end, proceeding to the deer he has killed and is holding it by the throat exactly as the tigers do. Just behind, the tiger shot by the Rawat is lying dead bleeding profusely.

The depiction of the tiger with white mouth, neck and lower inner part of the body, remind one of the tigers in the hunting scenes of Mewar. It is in an aerial view of the vast forest with diminutive trees, as seen from the height of the machan.

Inscription on the reverse reads: Rawat Shri Jagat Singhji hunting