Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur

The exhibition will feature a loan of 55 paintings from India, none of which have ever been seen before in Europe. The region of Jodhpur developed distinctive styles of painting between the 17th and 19th centuries, producing one of the most inventive styles in northern India in this period. Paintings produced for the private enjoyment of the Jodhpur brought together traditional Rajasthani styles and combined them with styles developed in the court of the imperial Mughals. Subjects depicted include the Jodhpur rulers in their gardens, surrounded by their wives while a group of later works reflect the devotion of the then Maharaja to an esoteric yogic tradition. Jodhpur artists rose to the challenge of creating images for metaphysical concepts and yoga narratives which had never before been the focus of court art.