Portrait of Maharaja Savant Singh with Consort, Bani Thani - Nihal Chand

A fine art print of a Kishangarh miniature painting by Nihal Chand, depicting Maharaja Savant Singh and his consort, Bani Thani.

This miniature painting originates from the Kishangarh court in Rajasthan, India. It depicts Maharaja Savant Singh in conversation with his consort, Bani Thani. The composition follows the conventions of the Kishangarh style, characterised by elongated facial features, arched eyebrows, and pointed noses. The Maharaja sits upon a patterned textile, gesturing towards his companion, while attendants stand to the left. A secondary figure of Bani Thani appears in a pavilion structure in the upper right, creating a narrative layering common in this period.

The colour palette relies on mineral pigments, including gold leaf applied to the garments and the decorative border. The background features a stylised representation of a palace complex against a twilight sky, rendered with flat perspective. The border is decorated with a repeating floral motif, typical of the refined aesthetic favoured by the Kishangarh atelier under the patronage of Savant Singh. Nihal Chand, the court artist, is credited with developing this specific visual language, which blends local Rajput traditions with Mughal technical precision.

The work functions as both a historical record of the court and a romanticised depiction of the couple. The figures are rendered with fine brushwork, particularly in the detailing of the jewellery and the textures of the fabrics. The scene avoids deep spatial recession, opting instead for a decorative arrangement that prioritises the clarity of the figures and their symbolic attributes. This print captures the precise application of gold and the muted, earthy tones of the original paper surface, providing a clear view of the stylistic choices that define the Kishangarh school of painting.