Art Review: ‘Royal Udaipur’ Show at Cleveland Museum

From Youngstown and Winslow Homer to Munch and God to court art in Rajasthan. I’m nothing if not various — and inquisitive. A few weeks ago, I saw A Splendid Land: Paintings from Royal Udaipur at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and splendid it is.

I know a lot about American presidential portraits and British, Spanish, and French royal portraits, but Maharana Ari Singh II Enjoying Jagmandir from around 1767 is something new. “Maharana” means “great king,” and we recognize him by the solar nimbus around his head. He’s present not once but six times, processing, resting, shooting fish in a pool, and watching his pet crocodiles eat their lunch. Fancily dressed women follow him, carrying his sword, shield, hookah, parasol, and royal standard. At the right, nobles play parcheesi. Servants carry food and drink, and musicians play.

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Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

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From Youngstown and Winslow Homer to Munch and God to court art in Rajasthan. I’m nothing if not various — and inquisitive. A few weeks ago, I saw A Splendid Land: Paintings from Royal Udaipur at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and splendid it is.

I know a lot about American presidential portraits and British, Spanish, and French royal portraits, but Maharana Ari Singh II Enjoying Jagmandir from around 1767 is something new. “Maharana” means “great king,” and we recognize him by the solar nimbus around his head. He’s present not once but six times, processing, resting, shooting fish in a pool, and watching his pet crocodiles eat their lunch. Fancily dressed women follow him, carrying his sword, shield, hookah, parasol, and royal standard. At the right, nobles play parcheesi. Servants carry food and drink, and musicians play.