Shield of Maharana Sangram Singh II (on loan)

The subject of the painting on this shield is Maharana Sangram Singh II who ruled the Rajput court of Mewar from 1690 to 1734. Messengers would carry a royal shield as a protective marker to allow them a safe and speedy passage, and in the martial Rajput courts they had long been used as trays for royal gifts.
Sangram Singh’s reign is known for its painting and this shield is divided into eight landscapes rendered in the distinct nim-qalam style, a monochromatic shading technique for rendering depth and volume. The subject of the painting on this shield is Sangram Singh, practising his archery, hunting tigers, and having amorous encounters in the forest,