Height : 37"  Breadth : 31"

The most famous and lasting rule was that of Serfoji ll, who ascended the throne of Tanjavur in A.D. 1798. By this time, the British had veritably ruled most of India and Tanjavur had to be handed over to the British throne. Serfoji was deprived of all power, leaving him a mere titular head.

Serfoji devoted his life to the pursuit of culture, and Tanjavur became renowned as a center for learning. His Saraswati Mahal Library was endowed with manuscripts collected from all over India, and books from all over the world. Serfoji patronized music, dance and the fine arts.

All in all, the Maratha rule in Tanjavur encouraged a golden period before its eventual culmination at the hands of the British. The two hundred years of Maratha rule left behind a rich legacy of art, music and architecture, the aroma of which still lingers within the city’s structures.

This portrait painting captures the essense of this great man who renewed the dying arts of Painting, literature and dance.