Question

Royal figures are shown playing Polo in this Rajasthani School painting from your syllabus.
(i) Mention the name of the artist and sub-school.
(ii) Briefly describe the subject matter by highlighting aesthetic appeal of the composition.

Hint:

Note how the Jodhpur artist Dana uses the diagonal placement of the galloping horses to lead the viewer's eye straight to the small white polo ball at the center of the field.

Answer 1

Step 1: Identifying the Artist and Sub-School (Part i):

• Title of the Painting: Chougan Players
• Artist: Dana
• Sub-School: Jodhpur sub-school (Rajasthani School of miniature painting)
• Medium: Water colour (Tempera) on paper
• Period: c. 18th Century AD (Maranu Period)

Step 2: Describing the Subject Matter and Compositional Appeal (Part ii):
The painting depicts a royal sport being played with elegance and energy:

• Subject Matter: The painting depicts two royal princesses riding on horseback, accompanied by four maids. They are engaged in a friendly yet active game of polo (Chougan), riding their horses on a lush green field and trying to control a small ball with long, curved polo sticks.
• Visual Rhythm and Movement: The composition is divided into two distinct, balanced groups facing each other diagonally. The horses are highly stylized, with long, slender necks and backs curved like bows, capturing a sense of high speed.
• Aesthetic Appeal and Color Harmony: The background features a vibrant green grass field, capped by a high, stylized strip of blue and white clouds on the horizon. The figures wear traditional Rajasthani attire—colorful ghagras, cholis, and elegant turbans—all rendered in flat, bright colors with fine gold outlines that add a sense of luxury to the scene.