The Maharajah of Kota, Members of Court, Attendants, and the Englishman James Tod
Indian
The drawing depicts the Maharaja of Kota under a canopy. He holds a large shield in his lap and seated against a large bolster. The halo surrounding his head denotes his divinely-sanctioned rule, as well as his god-on-earth status. The attendants that surround him hold flywhisks, peacock feather fans, and large standards, all of which collectively signify the Maharaja’s royal status. The scene is filled with members of the royal court, each of them holding large shields in their laps. At the bottom right is a male figure with a black top hat, identified in the text as the Englishman, James Tod, an officer of the British East India Company. Rajput Style, Kota School.
Ink and opaque white watercolor on paper