Maharana Sangram Singh Riding a Prize Stallion 1712

Curator: This is “Maharana Sangram Singh Riding a Prize Stallion,” created around 1712. It is currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It's quite striking! There’s a hieratic quality to the piece, particularly the regal bearing of the rider and the elaborate horse trappings, which are interesting. There is a lot of detail! Curator: It is an exquisite example of the courtly painting that flourished in the Mewar region of India at that time. Look closely, and you'll see the artist employed a meticulous stippling technique to give form and depth to the figures and drapery. Editor: Yes, the materials are really calling out to me here! What were the pigments sourced from? Did the process of applying each individual dot have some specific ritual meaning within the culture? I am wondering if the social dynamics between the artists and patron influenced these types of commissions. Curator: The sourcing and production are good questions, particularly the social structures involved. Commissioned works such as these often served as propaganda. It projects the image of Sangram Singh as a powerful ruler, with his prized horse serving as a symbol of status and wealth. The landscape provides a subtle backdrop emphasizing dominance over the physical environment as well. Editor: It also reminds us about art's connection to patronage and how that shapes the means of its creation and visibility. Do we know the workshop from which it originates? I am trying to ascertain the flow of resources and creative labour necessary for the creation of works of this scale. Curator: These kinds of historical records aren’t fully complete, although considerable scholarship seeks to shed light. And yet, regardless of any answers we may find about provenance or production, the enduring visual impact is hard to deny. Editor: Absolutely. I mean the material density really creates a world.