FOLLOWER OF CHOKHA, DEVGARH, RAJASTHAN, INDIA, CIRCA 1810-20

The ruling rawats of the thikana (feudal state) of Devgarh, which is situated in the northeast of Mewar, were subservient to the Maharanas of Udaipur. Due to the political and geographical proximity to the court at Udaipur, the Devgarh style of painting was very much an offshoot of Mewar painting which blossomed between circa 1766 and 1850. Scenes such as this, which likely depicts Maharana Bhim Singh of Mewar (r. 1778-1828) and Rawat Gokul Das of Devgarh (1786-1821) hunting tiger, were intended to reflect Devgarh’s status but also fealty.

The Devgarh school is most famous for the painters Bagta (active circa 1761-1814) and his son Chokha (active 1799-1828), who both trained in and were patronised by the Mewari ateliers before finding favour with the Rawats of Devgarh. A very similar painting of Maharana Bhim Singh and Rawat Gokul Das hunting wild boar by Chokha and dated 1800 is in the collection of Anil Relia (https://www.theindianportrait.com/artwork/maharana-bhim-singh-and-rawat-gokul-das-at-shikar/). It seems very possible that the present artist was aware of the Chokha painting when creating this scene.