Shield of Maharana Sangram Singh II  - Shield (dhal) of Maharana Sangram Singh IIMewar, About AD 1730Udaipur, Rajasthan, India       National Museum, New Delhi The subject of the painting on this shield is Maharana Sangram Singh II – ruler of the Rajput court of Mewar from 1690 to 1734. He is shown practicing his archery, hunting tigers, and having amorous encounters in the forest, while the women of the court expectantly await his return. Messengers would carry a royal shield to allow them a safe and speedy passage, and in Rajput courts they had long been used as trays for royal gifts. The elegant dagger is of a type that was comfortably worn tucked in the sash-belt and could have been used by either a man or woman.