India's courts knew how to celebrate. Painters showed Maharanas drenched in gulal during Holi, queens swinging beneath monsoon clouds at Teej, and palace terraces glowing with lamps at Diwali. Between festivals came the games. Women bent over chaupar boards, nobles rode out for chaugan, the old Persian form of polo, and Akbar is said to have played pachisi in his courtyard at Fatehpur Sikri with people standing in as the pieces.

These are some of the liveliest paintings the courts produced, full of colour, music and laughter. They make any room feel like a celebration is about to begin.

The Festivals and Games Collection brings that joy home, in the Mughal and Rajput manner and in realism.