A Mewar Nobleman

Like the nearby portrait of Raja Prithi Singh, this preparatory sketch for a painting shows how swords and shields helped to signify the status of the figures in Rajput portraiture. Here, a nobleman identified in the inscription as Rabal Viana Singh stands in a dignified pose often seen in formal portraits. He has a dhal slung on a cord around his shoulder, and his left arm rests on top of it. Under his hand is the round disc of a sword hilt, with the sheath extending out behind him. Stuck inside his belt is a katar, or stabbing dagger, also seen in the belts of the figures in the nearby portrait. The artist has used touches of yellow paint to indicate where gold leaf will be applied in the final painting.