An international exhibition, on display till August 31, highlights the cultural significance of maps, photographs, and paintings, emphasizing their role in governance, exploration, and cultural expression.
New Delhi: For the first time, visitors to Maharaja Fatesingh Museum in Vadodara, Gujarat, can witness a unique collection of maps, paintings, and photographs commissioned by the Maharanas of Mewar over the last 300 years.
On display for the public from June 23 to August 31, the international exhibition titled 'Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court', showcases this collection, depicting the grandeur of Udaipur’s City Palace and its enchanting landscapes.
Inaugurated late last month by former Royals, Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad of Baroda, Maharaj Samarjitsinh Gaekwad of Baroda, and Maharaj Kumar Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur, this is the first time the collection has been exhibited outside Udaipur.
The exhibit is a collaboration between The City Palace Museum, Udaipur, and the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum Trust, Vadodara. It is made possible with support from Getty, a leading global arts organization, via its Paper Project initiative.
“Maharaja Fatesingh Museum and the Gaekwad family are indeed honored to be hosting this important exhibition that gives us an insight into the history and administration of Mewar, one of India’s most glorious, valorous patriotic, and ancient royal dynasties,” said Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda.
Maps, photographs, and paintings on display inside the museum. (Photo provided by Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation)
Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, said that this "collaborative effort will go a long way in sharing the living heritage of our land with young and global audiences. We look forward to creating more opportunities to share our history, our legacies through exhibitions and events at our Museums".
Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court presents a wide spectrum of artifacts highlighting the history of Mewar, political dynamics in the colonial era, and the iconic architecture of Udaipur. Through informative displays, the exhibition highlights the cultural significance of maps, photographs, and paintings, emphasizing their role in governance, exploration, and cultural expression.
Further, it shows how maps were used to navigate, document, and interpret the world, reflecting the intellectual and artistic endeavors of Udaipur’s court. According to Dr Shailka Mishra, the exhibition curator, “The maps played a significant role in administration, revenue collection, and military planning. Besides the practical applications, the maps also highlight the linkages of Udaipur with the world.”
