By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana

This hand-painted photo-montage was perhaps intended to be a souvenir to be gifted to important citizens of Mysore.

Six individual photographs have been placed within leaves akin to the spades pattern used in playing cards. The central oval photograph depicts the 28th September 1895 Dasara Durbar of the eleven-year-old Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, surrounded by courtiers. He was coronated on 1st February 1895 as the 24th Maharaja of the ruling Wadiyar dynasty under the regentship of his mother H.H. Kempananjammanni Vani Vilasa Sannidhana and a council of three members.

Foliage emanating from the bottom leaf (spade) encircles the remaining photographs. Below the bottom leaf the legend reads ‘H.H. Chamaraja Wadyir Bahadoor GCSI (Grand Colonel Star of India) Late Maharaja of Mysore.’ On the right upwards in anti-clockwise direction are the images with legends, ‘Princess Jayalukshmanni,’ ‘Princess Chaluuagamani,’ ‘H.H. Sri Krishnaraja Wadyer Br. (Bahadoor) Maharaja of Mysore,’ ‘Prince Khanti Narasaraja Wadyer Bahadoor’ and ‘Princess Krishnajiammanni.’

Two flying cherubs offer flowers from above among the clouds, the spade shaped photo cutouts are surrounded by floral chaplets inspired by European woodcut designs. The entire composition mimics the specific branch of the royal family tree as if visually recording the passing of the kingship from the father to son with active support of latter’s siblings.

This is a sepia tinted photograph of the hand-painted original photo-montage. The spellings of names have been retained as in the original photograph.

[Size: 15 x 20 cms

Collection: Ramsons Kala Pratishtana]