Her Highness Maharani Sanyogita Devi of Indore was born Princess Sanyogita of Kagal, who with her husband Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II helped turn Manik Bagh (their “Jewel Garden” palace) into a celebrated Art Deco showpiece filled with cutting-edge European design. Educated in England and photographed by Man Ray, she moved with ease between Indian court protocol and avant-garde Paris. French artist Bernard Boutet de Monvel captures that duality with a traditional sari and a cascade of flowers, yet her frontal pose, flattened space, and crisp geometry are pure modernism. The young Indian maharani stands on a dark platform, directly facing us. Her medium-brown skin, oval face, and neat centre-parted black hair frame a poised but unsmiling expression, her dark eyes meeting ours with steady intensity and her lips painted deep red. She wears a luminous lime-yellow sari with a finely patterned gold border and the sheer pallu drawn over her head and across one arm so we glimpse a richly embroidered black and gold bodice and turquoise short sleeves beneath. Her right hand rests on her hip while the left gathers a fold of fabric at her waist as red-polished nails catching the light. Around her neck sits a diamond-and-emerald necklace with two monumental pear-shaped diamonds, echoed by matching earrings, bracelet, ring, and a slim watch. She stands in elegant sandals, surrounded on three sides by white ornamental pots bursting with palms, lilies, chrysanthemums, and marigolds, all set against a pale, nearly blank background that makes her figure and jewels read with extraordinary clarity. The dazzling necklace incorporates the famous “Indore Pears” diamonds, signalling both dynastic wealth and the couple’s enthusiasm for contemporary jewelry. Sanyogita died in 1937 in her early twenties, and her unflinching gaze here preserves the image of a young woman whose taste, confidence, and curiosity helped redefine what Indian royalty could look like in the 1930s.

“H.H. The Maharani of Indore” by Bernard Boutet de Monvel (French) - Oil on canvas / c. 1934 - Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris, France) #WomenInArt #artText #artwork #BernardBoutetdeMonvel #Monvel #BoutetdeMonvel #AlThaniCollection #MuseeDesArtsDecoratifs #ArtDeco #RoyalPortrait #PortraitofaWoman

In 1929, the young Maharaja and Maharani of Indore (the “king” and “queen” of a princely state in British India) asked French artist Bernard Boutet de Monvel to create their portraits. He depicted the “modern female” socialite standing elegantly in front of a dark, ornate cabinet. The atmosphere is one of poise, sophistication, and a sense of calm refinement. The lighting is well-controlled, highlighting the Maharani's features and the folds of her exquisite light beige satin or silk gown, with a pink shawl draped at her side. Her timeless dress features a fitted bodice and a full, flowing skirt, with subtle pleats and gathers. Her short, wavy 1920s bob hairstyle is sophisticated and well-groomed. She wears diamond earrings and a stunning diamond & emerald necklace featuring the 47-carat "Indore Pears" diamonds in a setting by French jewelry company Mauboussin. The two teardrop-shaped stunners, at 46.62 and 44.18 carats respectively, were later purchased and sold by American jeweler Harry Winston in 1946. Yaswant Rao Holkar II married Sanyogitabai Holkar of Indore in 1924. Both were products of private British education. She was merely 11 years old at the time, he 16. In 1926, he became Maharaja and was invested with full powers in 1930, succeeding his father Tukojirao Holkar II. The couple craved cosmopolitan adventure. They traveled so extensively in Europe and America that they were criticized in India for rarely being on home soil. They benefited from aristocratic privileges to lavishly entertain and thrive amongst film stars, fashion designers, and famous artists as part of Europe and America’s young super elite. Tragically, the beautiful Maharani passed away at just 22. Information surrounding her death is vague, but allegedly she was in Switzerland (where, incidentally she was also born) for a “cure,” but things unexpectedly turned for the worse. She left behind her 4-year-old daughter Usha and her husband who married twice again in his lifetime.

“The Maharani of Indore” by Bernard Boutet de Monvel (French) - Oil on canvas / 1929 #WomenInArt #art #fashion #diamonds #1920s #ArtText #womensart #portraitofawoman #BernardBoutetdeMonvel #BoutetdeMonvel #portraitofalady #IndorePears #painting #portrait #FrenchArtist #IndianWoman #style #glamour

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