The collector king

The world of Indian and European art put together by Sayajirao Gaekwad III a century ago

I’ve been fascinated with Baroda’s Sayajirao Gaekwad III ever since I opened my first book on Raja Ravi Varma and learnt how the 19-year-old Maharaja invited the painter to Baroda (now Vadodara) on the suggestion of his Diwan, Sir TR Madhvarao, in 1881. The painter was to make the prince’s ceremonial portrait for his investiture, but he stayed on to paint some 44 of his best works over the next four years.
 
Legend has it that the young prince agreed to the painter’s request to display his mythological paintings for the common people of Baroda. These were exhibited in