Maharaja Abhai Singh of Marwar (reigned 1724–49), Equestrian, Watching Girls Swinging at the Teej Festival

The work portrays Maharaja Abhai Singh of Marwar, who ruled from 1724 to 1749, observing a festive scene in which two women swing from a rope during the Teej celebration. A rider on a white horse, identified as the Maharaja, looks toward the swinging figures while a crowd gathers below, creating a dynamic composition of courtly observation and communal festivity.

The artist employs a vivid palette of saturated reds, blues, and golds, accentuating the celebratory atmosphere. Fine linear detailing renders the textiles and ornamental patterns of the participants’ garments, while the dark, star‑filled sky and distant yellow hill provide a contrasting backdrop that heightens the scene’s visual drama.

Created during the early eighteenth century, the work belongs to the Rajput school of painting, which blended indigenous iconography with influences from Mughal court art. The depiction of a ruler observing a public celebration illustrates the period’s emphasis on the sovereign’s role as a cultural guardian within the Marwar kingdom.