Ganpat Rao, Gaekwar of Baroda (r.1847-1856)
Painting
probably April 1851 (made)
probably April 1851 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
William Carpenter was the eldest son of the distinguished portrait painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter and of William Hookham Carpenter, who became Keeper of the Prints and Drawings Department at the British Museum. In early 1850 he set off in the footsteps of his younger brother Percy, also an artist, and landed in Bombay. He spent much of his time painting portraits of local rulers and the surrounding countryside, often wearing Indian dress himself. He travelled widely, from Sri Lanka in the south to Kashmir in the north, and he also spent some time in the Punjab and Afghanistan before moving south to Rajasthan. He appears to have returned to England in 1856. Ten years later he was living in Boston, USA, but he moved back to London, where he died in 1899. Carpenter's Indian pictures display a particular interest in costume, agriculture, and the day-to-day lives of the local inhabitants. This portrait of Ganpat Rao, the Gaekwar of Baroda, shows him seated. He ruled from 1847 until 1856.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Ganpat Rao, Gaekwar of Baroda (r.1847-1856) (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Pencil and watercolour on paper |
Brief description | Ganpat Rao, Gaekwar of Baroda (r.1847-1856) by William Carpenter, painting, watercolour on paper, India, 1851 |
Physical description | Seated portrait of Ganpat Rao in fine clothing and turban. |
Dimensions |
|
Gallery label | PORTRAIT OF GANPAT RAO, GAEKWAR OF BARODA
(r.1847-56)
William Carpenter (1818-99)
Watercolour on paper
Baroda (Vadodara)
1851
IS.155-1881
This depiction of Ganpat Rao pays particular attention to the Maharaja’s fine silk clothing and exquisite jewellery. William Carpenter’s meticulously dated sketches indicate that he travelled to cities in northern and western India from 1850 to 1856. During this time, he painted observational sketches of the scenes around him, as well as taking portrait commissions such as this.(01/08/2017) |
Credit line | Purchased from William Carpenter |
Object history | Historical significance: William Carpenter (1818-99) William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools, and was the eldest son of the distinguished portrait painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter and William Hookham Carpenter, who became Keeper of the Prints and Drawings Department at the British Museum. He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism. After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A. |
Summary | William Carpenter was the eldest son of the distinguished portrait painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter and of William Hookham Carpenter, who became Keeper of the Prints and Drawings Department at the British Museum. In early 1850 he set off in the footsteps of his younger brother Percy, also an artist, and landed in Bombay. He spent much of his time painting portraits of local rulers and the surrounding countryside, often wearing Indian dress himself. He travelled widely, from Sri Lanka in the south to Kashmir in the north, and he also spent some time in the Punjab and Afghanistan before moving south to Rajasthan. He appears to have returned to England in 1856. Ten years later he was living in Boston, USA, but he moved back to London, where he died in 1899. Carpenter's Indian pictures display a particular interest in costume, agriculture, and the day-to-day lives of the local inhabitants. This portrait of Ganpat Rao, the Gaekwar of Baroda, shows him seated. He ruled from 1847 until 1856. |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.155-1881 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | December 24, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest