Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 15 hours ago

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How realistic is this court portrait of the Maharaja of Bikaner, Gaj Singh II? Step into the Rajput court of Bikaner, located in the desert region of Rajasthan located in northwest India, and take a closer look at a masterful painting depicting wealth and status. This Masterpiece Minute podcast episode shares how this and other court portraits from the region use symbols and artistic technique to show the subject’s high social status and wealth. Plus, learn about the context in which this was portrait was originally shared.

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