A Leisurely Ride
William Dalrymple discusses an 18th-century painting by the renowned Pahari miniature painter Nainsukh celebrating a local ruler on a leisurely horse ride.
The writer and historian William Dalrymple continues his history of India through five great works of art and sculpture.
A painting by the renowned Pahari miniature painter Nainsukh inspires Dalrymple's fourth essay. It's from the 18th century. The image is of one of Nainsukh's patrons, Mian Mukund Dev of Jasrota, out riding on horseback with his retinue, all clad in bright clothes, romance in the air. One is playing a drum, another is singing. This is a joyful scene, brimming with the colours of the Punjab hills of northern India.
Dalrymple tells the story of this remarkable painter, working at a time when the Punjab hill-states of the Himalayan foothills were going through a period of astonishing creativity. He describes the life of Nainsukh and the status of the artist of this period. He also chronicles his astonishing and ultimately tragic relationship with the local ruler.
'A Short History of Indian Art' is a Whistledown Production for 麻豆社 Radio 3. The producer is Anthony Denselow.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 17 Sep 2015 22:45麻豆社 Radio 3
- Thu 15 Jun 2017 22:45麻豆社 Radio 3
Death in Trieste
A 1760s murder still informs ideas about aesthetics, a certain sort of sex, and death.
Watch: My Deaf World
Five compelling experiences of what it is like to be deaf in 21st-century Britain.
The Book that Changed Me
Five figures from the arts and science introduce books that changed their lives and work.
Download The Essay
Download all the episodes from the series and listen at your leisure.
Podcast
-
![]()
The Essay
Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
