Three saluki dogs—a type of greyhound originally brought to South Asia from the Near East and bred for hunting—are shown here attacking a boar in the annual spring hunt. Hunting fierce predators, particularly wild boars, tigers, lions, bears, and crocodiles, was a popular pastime that provided entertainment for the court and proved the bravery and prowess of the Rajput nobles. More importantly, the spring hunt was dedicated to the warrior goddess, Durga, and success was perceived as a good omen for the coming year. On the right side of this unfinished fragment, a hunter on elephant back aims his rifle at a tiger being attacked by the elephant. In the lower left corner, a trained cheetah, distinguished by its collar, attacks a gazelle. In the foreground, a fox standing on its hind legs battles a hare.
Bagta was a leading artist at the Mewar capital of Udaipur in circa 1761–1768 before becoming the resident court artist at Devgarh in 1769–1814. He was a prolific artist specializing in royal portraits and hunting scenes. For additional LACMA works attributed to Bagta, see M.79.69, M.87.278.3, and M.87.278.4.
