A Prince Hunting Boars with His Retinue

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The distinctive style of painting that emerged in the late eighteenth century at Jhilai, a less well-known Rajput court, probably represents the work of a single master and his atelier. Closely related to Jaipur painting, the Jhilai style is distinguished by a more mannered treatment (note the formulaic depiction of the galloping horses), subdued palette, and descriptive clarity. Here we see the prince lunging from the saddle and striking a boar with his long-bladed sword as the animal attempts to flee across a silver stream. Clad in a white jama (tunic) and followed close behind by courtiers, the prince is boldly silhouetted against his beige horse. His palace, at upper right, is surrounded by a moat and a walled city; beyond is a lake with pleasure boats and water fowl.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art