Arthashastra, the ancient Indian treatise on statecraft while laying down the schedule an ideal ruler was supposed to follow, included leisurely activities, such as musical or artistic performance as a vital component of the royal routine. Leisure and pleasure have been important parts of the life of the king, who most of the time was involved in the hustle-bustle and the clash of swords on the battleground. Painted with a sumptuous variety of colors, this watercolor painting of a king in the garden, accompanied by his queens, maidservants, and guards, is a celebration of the mandatory pauses and gentle moments in the life of the battle-hardened sovereign.
The watercolor on paper has a lush green background of beautiful trees, full of leaves and flowers, which become the resting place for a variety of exotic bird species. A pleasing brook flows underneath the shadow of the trees, in which swim ducks in two rows. The center of the painting is the king, present in the right portion of the painting, on a soft white rug, sipping an intricately painted hookah, while his favorite queen rests in his lap. The elegant white of his attire complements the vibrant red of the queen’s fineries, a color which is worn by most of the womenfolk in this watercolor painting. Two women, part of the royal harem on the left can be seen on horseback- a favored sport of the imperial families. One of them has a white eagle on her arm, while the other one carries a fan made out of the feathers of a peacock. Three women can be seen in the foreground of the painting, two of them on the ground with goblets and other utensils, probably preparing a drink to soothe the thirst of their king. The third female figure, in the lower right corner of this royal watercolor painting, carries a shield that seems to be tied to her chest. In her appearance, the lady is a soldier, probably a guard who keeps an eye on the ladies of the royal household, who as per the customs are not supposed to see or be seen by any male other than the king himself, whose might and superiority in the painting are delineated by the golden aura that surrounds his face. The topmost portion of the beautiful watercolor has a group of white clouds and a blue sky- seems like it was the perfect day for the king to enjoy the company of the gorgeous women. Painted following the artistic vocabulary of the Punjab hills, this watercolor is a colorful reminder of the majesty of the Indian royal culture and the utility of leisure in our lives.
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