An international exhibition titled ‘Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court’ was inaugurated by the former Royal Families of Udaipur and Baroda at the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum in Vadodara on 22nd June 2024.
Former Royals of Udaipur and Baroda inaugurated the global exhibition at Maharaja Fatesingh Museum
Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad of Baroda, Maharaj Samarjitsinh Gaekwad of Baroda, and Maharaj Kumar Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur inaugurated the exhibition, a collaboration between The City Palace Museum, Udaipur and the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum Trust, Vadodara. This exhibition is made possible with support from Getty through its Paper Project initiative.
On display for the public from 23rd June to 31st August 2024, ‘Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court’ exhibition showcases rare maps, paintings, and photographs from the Royal Collection of Mewar. This collection has never been exhibited outside Udaipur.
For the first time, visitors to Maharaja Fatesingh Museum in Vadodara will witness this unique collection depicting the grandeur of Udaipur’s City Palace and its enchanting landscapes. Through maps, paintings, and photographs commissioned by the Maharanas of Mewar over the last 300 years, different facets of city of Udaipur and the Mewar region will be experienced.
“Maharaja Fatesingh Museum and the Gaekwad family are indeed honoured to be hosting this important exhibition that gives us an insight into the history and administration of Mewar, one of India’s most glorious, valorous patriotic and ancient royal dynasties. We thank the Mewar royal family, the MMCF and Getty for making these invaluable archives accessible to my city of Vadodara and look forward to many more such collaborations between our museums,” said H H Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda.
“I heartily congratulate the curatorial and research teams of our Museum, Maharaja Fatesingh Museum and the Getty,” said Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, “for curating this landmark exhibition for audiences in Vadodara. This collaborative effort will go a long way in sharing the living heritage of our land with young and global audiences. We look forward to creating more opportunities to share our history, our legacies through exhibitions and events at our Museums.”
‘Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court’ presents a wide spectrum of artefacts highlighting the history of Mewar, political dynamics in the colonial era, and the iconic architecture of Udaipur. “The maps played a significant role in administration, revenue collection, and military planning. Besides the practical applications, the maps also highlight the linkages of Udaipur with the world,” said Dr. Shailka Mishra, the exhibition curator.
In 2021, the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, was awarded a prestigious grant part of the Paper Project from Getty to showcase a rare and never-before-seen collection of maps and cartographic documents. The first exhibition was inaugurated in Udaipur in July 2023, and now, as part of the grant’s requirements, the collection is travelling to Vadodara.
Through informative displays, the exhibition highlights the cultural significance of maps, photographs, and paintings, emphasizing their role in governance, exploration, and cultural expression. It shows how maps were used to navigate, document, and interpret the world, reflecting the intellectual and artistic endeavours of Udaipur’s court.
To enrich visitor experience, an audio-visual display will provide glimpses of present-day Udaipur city, showcasing its picturesque lakes and various landmarks.
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