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[[File:4 Radha (Bani Thani), Kishangarh, ca. 1750, National Museum New Delhi.jpg|right|thumb|Bani Thani, [[Kishangarh]] miniature, [[National Museum, New Delhi]]]]<br />
'''Bani Thani''' was a singer and poet in [[Kishangarh]] in the time of Raja Samant Singh (1748–1764), whose mistress she became. After he abdicated the throne the couple retired to a comfortable life in [[Brindavan]], a place associated with the life of [[Krishna]], to whom Samant Singh was greatly devoted. A group of [[Indian miniature|Indian miniature paintings]] of around 1750 attributed to [[Nihâl Chand]] from the Marwar school of Kishangarh show Krishna and [[Radha]], using the same models, who are assumed to be Sawant Singh and Bani Thani.<ref>Harle, 395; Kossak, 21; [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/51852/Bani-Thani Bani Thani] britannica.com; [https://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/india/2012/10/121017_monalisa_india_ss.shtml bbc.co.uk]</ref><br />
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Bani Thani is depicted with elegant and graceful features, rather stylized, including arched eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes and pointed chin.<ref name="Sodhi">{{cite book |last=Sodhi |first1=Jiwan|title=A Study of Bundi School of Painting |chapter=Kishangarh |publisher=Abhinav |year=1999 |pages=25–26 |isbn=81-7017-347-7 }}</ref> One painting of her was featured in an Indian stamp issued on 5 May 1973.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/2689-Bani-Thani-The-Indian-Mona-Lisa/?gclid=CKmjq-GxrdMCFdERaAod_xUMfQ|title=‘Bani Thani’: The Indian Mona Lisa|work=Mintage World|access-date=2017-04-18|language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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== Biography ==<br />
Bani Thani was believed to be the mistress of King Sawant Singh, and later became one of his wives. Her birth name was Vishnupriya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.speakingtree.in/article/bani-thani|title=BANI THANI|website=www.speakingtree.in|access-date=2017-04-18}}</ref> She was a singer employed by his stepmother and he was drawn to her because of her beauty and singing. She came to be known as 'Bani Thani', which means "the decked out lady", because of the exquisite jewellery and makeup that she used to adorn herself with after becoming queen. He also wrote poetry for her under the pen name of Nagari Das. Their love bloomed due to a shared interest in singing, poetry and devotion for [[Krishna]]. She also wrote poetry under the pen name of Mrs.Rasikbihari. Later, he commissioned his artists to depict their relationship in a way similar to the love between Radha and Krishna. Both lovers died in the 1760s. They have twin [[chhatris]] dedicated to them near the Nagari Kunj temple.<br />
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== Style and theme ==<br />
The Kishangarh school of art is notable for its elongated style, with ''"arched eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes and pointed chin"'' a highly idealized facial form reminiscent of Indian sculpture art.<ref>A Study of Bundi School of Painting<br />
By Jiwan Sodhi, page 146</ref> Kishangarh was influenced by [[Hadoti|Būndi]] painting in its use of lush vegetation, dramatic night skies, vivid movement and [[Mughal art|Mughal]] painting in its use of side-profile portraits, though it can be distinguished from both of them due to its extremely meticulous details, rich colours and fine technique.<ref>A Study of Bundi School of Painting<br />
By Jiwan Sodhi, page 147</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/South-Asian-arts/Visual-arts-of-India-and-Sri-Lanka-Ceylon#ref533114|title=South Asian arts - Visual arts of India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon)|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-04-18|language=en}}</ref> The patron-king Savant Singh was a member of the [[Vallabha Acharya|Vallabhācārya]] sect devoted to [[Krishna]], due to which religiously themed paintings flourished in the court under his patronage. The paintings of Kishangarh school are characterised by a religious fervour and this might have been the reason why the portraiture of the queen was compared to, and is believed to have been inspired by, the figure of Radha.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Kishangarh-painting#ref26813|title=Kishangarh painting {{!}} Indian art|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-04-18|language=en}}</ref><br />
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== The Sringara-rasa Nayika ==<br />
Within the [[Ashta Nayika]] classification system of heroines, the Bani Thani is identified as the Vasakasajja Nayika type, with the element of [[Sringara]] rasa (romantic love) predominating. Hence, the painting conveys the passionate and romantic elements of the legend. She has been portrayed with all the elements of Sringara and exaggerated facial features which are unrealistic but striking. This style of portraiture later became the standard of beauty in all the later paintings of the Kishangarh school.<br />
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==Images==<br />
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px"><br />
File:7_attrib_to_Nihal_Chand_Raja_Savant_Singh_and_Bani_Thani_as_Krishna_and_Radha_Artwork_ca_1760_Fine_Arts_Museums_of_San_Francisco.jpg|Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani as Krishna and Radha, ca. 1760.<br />
File:Radha and Krishna in the boat of love - Google Art Project.jpg|''Radha and Krishna in the boat of love''<br />
File:Maker_unknown%2C_India_-_Krishna_and_Radha_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg|Krishna and Radha, Opaque watercolor and gold on cotton, ca 1750.<br />
File:3 Nichal Chand (attr) Krishna Celebrates Holi with Radha and the Gopis 1750-60 Boston MFA.jpg|''Krishna Celebrates Holi with Radha and the Gopis'', 1750–60, Boston MFA<br />
File:Nihâl Chand 001.jpg|Krishna and Radha in a pavilion<br />
</gallery><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
*Harle, J.C., ''The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent'', 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press Pelican History of Art, {{ISBN|0300062176}}<br />
*{{cite book |author=Kossak, Steven | title=Indian court painting, 16th-19th century. |url=http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/12335/rec/74 | location=New York | publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art | year=1997| isbn=0870997831}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091007115808/http://wiki.indianfolklore.org/images/8/87/Rajasthan_miniature.pdf Rajasthan Miniature Painting]<br />
* [http://www.davidrumsey.com/amica/amico214220-58138.html Raja Savant Singh and Bani Thani as Krishna and Radha Strolling in a Palace Garden]<br />
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[[Category:18th-century Indian women singers]]<br />
[[Category:18th-century Indian singers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian painting]]<br />
[[Category:Kishangarh]]</div>>Yethrosh