Portraits of Princely India: 1700-1900

Since independence the princes and regional rulers of India have mostly been seen as anachronistic figures, often a byword for extravagance, sybaritic lifestyles, and mild despotism. No serious efforts have been made to put these men and a few women in a pictorial context to examine the differing styles of portraiture favoured by them and the motives behind the pictures. This book examines the stories behind the portraits.