An artwork by Shweta Bhargava entitled Bani-Thani, often referred as the Indian Mona Lisa, is now showcasing in the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2018.

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The painting is winning the hearts of thousands of Sydney siders. The artwork is also gaining high popularity amongst the local Indian community, who in particular are keen to know more about this Rajasthani artwork.

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An earlier artwork by Shweta was also exhibited at Sydney Royal Easter show(2015) and The NSW parliament house(2014)

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A brief background:

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This painting is a reproduction of a worldwide venerated eighteenth century masterpiece BANI-THANI by the celebrated Kishangarh painter Nihal Chand in Rajasthan and the prestigious theme of one of the postal stamps issued by the Government of India in 1973 in recognition of its rarity.

 

The lady in this portrait is Bani Thani, was a gifted singer and talented poet in Kishangarh in the time of king Savant Singh (1748–1764).
An elongated face and as much elongated neck, almond-shaped but too long eyes with delicately carved eye-brows curving like a bow and drooping eyelids, a fastidious nose, relatively tiny thin lips and a protruding pointed chin – all so unusual and imagined-type, the painting is contended to be a real portrayal of a courtesan, who was distinct, astonishingly beautiful and charismatic.

 

Shweta aspires to promote India's rich heritage & art-forms in Australia through her artwork. 

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