Opaque watercolour on paper, group of Rajput nobles, posssibly Raja Ajit SIngh (1678-1725) of Jodhpur with his sons and grandsons, Jodhpur, c. 1725.

The uncluttered lines and earthy colours of this painting are typical of western Rajasthan, especially Jodhpur, in the early 18th century. It has been suggested that the central figure of the painting is Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur (ruled 1707-24), but it is just as likely to be the ruler of a much smaller domain in the region. At this time, the fashion for portraiture had spread beyond the Jodhpur court to the outlying districts, and many minor nobles and land-owners had their portraits painted, either on horse-back or with their nobles, as here.

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