Sharanagati, Avatar Vadavali, Tattvarthdeep Nibandh, Subodhini, Vedant Chintamani.

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Heritage Conservation and Promotion

Exhibition: 'Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court'

The City Palace Museum, Udaipur, is hosting an exhibition of rare painted and printed maps of Udaipur in association with The Getty Foundation of the USA from 11th July 2023 at Fateh Niwas Gallery. Funded by The Getty Foundation under its Paper Project, the exhibition brings together a collection of rare printed maps, painted maps, and cartographic documents from the Mewar Royal Collection in the Mardana Mahal. The exhibition provides fascinating insights into how places, landscapes, and the topography of the State of Mewar were depicted on maps, paintings, and other related documents. The iconic architecture of Udaipur's palaces can also be seen in these objects, as depicted by cartographic printers and painters of the past. The exhibition is a result of a grant received by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, from The Getty Foundation in 2021. The curatorial and research teams of the City Palace Museum have been working on preserving the cartographic materials dating back to the 1700s in its collections. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Shailka Mishra, consultant curator for the project. The exhibition is divided into different themes and showcases 53 objects, including a diverse array of maps meticulously commissioned and collected by the Maharanas of Mewar. On display are seven paintings, 31 maps, one architectural drawing, 12 photographs, one photo album, and one bahida (daily diary). The exhibition also features topographical maps, landscape paintings, the cartographic works of British painters on Mewar and Udaipur, besides early printed maps of India, world maps, and local district maps created for revenue administration.

To engage visitors, the exhibition will have interactive kiosks and tours. Visitors can learn about the history of Mewar through the maps and gain new insights into how the earlier generation of painters, draughtsmen, and historians perceived the world. "These maps are historical documents and have tremendous archival value," said Dr. Mishra. "We have innumerable other court records like bahidas, architectural drawings, photographs, and paintings. These maps complement and complete our understanding of the past." The Udaipur Court was famous for its writings on history and literature, and maps are part of this vibrant intellectual culture that belongs not just to Rajasthan but to the entire nation. The exhibition is a unique opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Udaipur through its maps. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of cartography, the history of Udaipur, or the history of Rajasthan.

Exhibition displayed at Fateh Niwas Gallery

Title: Mewar State; Publishers: Hiteshi Pustak Prakashan
Date: 1945; Provenance: Udaipur
Accession No.: 2020.42.0050; The City Palace Museum © MMCF