The famous British Museum has turned its significant showcase of Jodhpur paintings into a fascinating, full-fledged Indian summer.

Columnist Sunil Sethi describes in ‘London’s Indian summer’ how this impressive and widely attended art show in London (on view till September 09 end) takes one back to an arid part of the desert state in the era of 18th-19th century. The show transports one into a realm of violent intrigue, spiritual attainment and hedonistic pleasure.

The columnist writes: “This is a superbly mounted exhibition in the British Museum’s seven interlinked galleries. Over 50 newly discovered paintings are on display. They are from the Marwar region; miniature in style albeit often monumental in size… Although the technique resembles Indian miniaturist style, they are in large-format. Some paintings are even larger than 2 feet x four feet. While it’s often difficult to soak in the detail of miniatures without straining eyes, here the action simply leaps out at you in its fine subject matter, vivid colors and nuances.”

The Jodhpur’s Rathore dynasty painting series chronicles the lives and pursuits of three reigns - Maharaja Bakhat Singh (1706-1752), his successor Vijai Singh (1752-93) and Man Singh (1803-43).

The paintings are among the most powerful and enigmatic Indian miniatures abstracts ever executed. There are lectures on Indian love poetry, art, film classics as well as tours of Indian collections comprising Amravati’s Buddhist sculpture. ‘Gardens and Cosmos’ will be hosted at New Delhi’s National Museum in November.

View ‘Garden & Cosmos’ at British Museum
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/all_current_exhibitions/indian_summer/garden_and_cosmos.aspx