Maharana Jawan Singh of Mewar hunting boar

Although this painting is not inscribed, it closely resembles surviving portraits of Maharana Jawan Singh (reigned 1828-1838) of Mewar, a powerful Hindu kingdom situated in what is now Rajasthan state. (In Mewar, maharana was the term equivalent to maharaja, or "great king.") Jawan Singh hunts boar while an attendant follows on foot. As in several other paintings on this wall, the difference in scale between the maharaja's figure and that of his attendant indicates the differences in their respective social ranks.
Images of hunting, a popular royal pursuit, were produced in large numbers for various South Asian patrons. This painting may refer to a specific event in Mewar-the annual spring boar hunt, which was known as Aheria. According to historical sources, the success of the hunt foretold a prosperous year. Having themselves depicted as participants was one way for Jawan Singh and other Mewar rulers to indicate their bravery and skill. Such paintings were also meant to show them dutifully observing traditional rituals in order to ensure the prosperity of their subjects.