Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad (Indian, 1938-2012) UntitledRanjitsinhrao Gaekwad (Indian, 1938-2012)Untitled three signed and dated 'Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad 97'/'Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad 1997' lower left and two signed and dated 'Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad 97' lower rightpencil and ink on tracing paper42.3 x 59.2cm (16 5/8 x 23 5/16in).Ranjitsinh Gaekwad was the Maharajah of Vadodara, formerly Baroda, a politician and a keen promoter of the arts. He obtained a post graduate degree in fine arts from Maharaja Sayajirao University, where was he was taught by NS Bendre and KG Subramanyan and obtained a diploma in painting from the Royal Academy of Arts, London in 1959-60. He painted throughout his life, excluding the gap of 15 years, during which he served two terms as an MP for the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament in India). He worked across mediums that included oils, pastels, charcoal, watercolours and graphite. He also created sculptures, experimented with photorealism and painted on printed bed covers. In 2009, he was commissioned by the University of Durham to make a sculpture based on the theme of water waste. The sculpture named 'Vessels of Life,' stood at over 12ft high and exemplified his aim for artworks to achieve visual pleasure. He seldom exhibited his works in India, but his retrospective titled 'A Persistent Quest,' was held in 2007 which included works spanning over four decades of his career.