Picture Details
Courtly life: Raja Anand Dev of Bahu and Raja Dhruv Dev of Jammu
Partner:
British LibraryImage reference:
BL.J.1.18Origin:
Jammu, IndiaArtist / Date:
Patak Chand, c.1770Size:
218 x 314 mmDescription:
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This miniature portrays Raja Anand Dev (ruled c.1690-c.1715) of Bahu (Jammu), seated on the right, smoking a hookah with Raja Dhrub Dev, (ruled 1703-1735) of Jammu, on the left. They each have their attendants or chauri (whisk, insignia of royalty, usually made of yak hair) bearers. The men are seated on a pale yellow carpet with floral motifs and supported by cushions decorated with floral patterns. Their convivial meeting is on a marble terrace enclosed by a fret-worked marble railing beyond which are garden trees. Their fine cotton clothes with bright cummerbunds are imprinted with floral designs, as are the lavish hookah bases. Between them is a leaf plate heaped with paan (betel chews) and each has a box of ingredients for paan-making placed near their ornate daggers. The entire scene is emblematic of the ubiquity of flowers as a motif of Indian courtly life.
