Not currently on display at the V&A

Bhore Ghauts

Painting
1824-1828 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sir Charles Harcourt Chambers (1789-1828) was appointed Puisne Judge of the new Supreme Court, Bombay in 1823. He was knighted by George III and became acting Chief Justice of Bombay in August 1828, two months before his death. In his spare time, Chambers was an accomplished amateur watercolour painter of landscapes and riverscapes and journeyed regularly across the harbour to Panvel on the mainland. He also explored the nearby region of the Konkan and Western Ghats, and his pictures were clearly executed on the spot as he travelled. He repeatedly painted the forts, hills and pinnacles, often including trees and vegetation to enhance his compositions. He had considerable skill in capturing atmospheric effects, and his scenes have a distinct sense of reality. It was Chambers himself who probably inserted the pictures into three albums (IS.21 to 23-1994) by slitting the leaves and placing them mostly on separate pages. They are mostly in pencil and watercolour, with a few drawings in pen and ink or pencil. Besides views of Western India, the albums contain a few paintings of London and scenery in England, Scotland and Wales. This picture shows a view of the Bhor Ghat with the noted landmark 'The Duke’s Nose' at Khandala (Poona District, Bombay).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBhore Ghauts (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pencil and watercolour on paper
Brief description
Bhore Ghauts by Charles Harcourt Chambers, painting, watercolour on paper, India, 1824-28
Physical description
This picturesque view shows a landscape with the Western Ghats mountain range in the distance. The range includes the popular landmark the 'Duke's Nose'. This is named after the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), whose distinctive nose it resembles. There is a grassy landscape in the foreground with a figure seated by a rock.
Dimensions
  • Height: 211mm
  • Length: 271mm
Gallery label
Following the road inland, the traveller would come across many picturesque views, such as this one with the 'Duke's Nose' rising in the distance. The figure seated in the foreground gives an indication of the magnificent scale of the surrounding scenery.
Subject depicted
Summary
Sir Charles Harcourt Chambers (1789-1828) was appointed Puisne Judge of the new Supreme Court, Bombay in 1823. He was knighted by George III and became acting Chief Justice of Bombay in August 1828, two months before his death. In his spare time, Chambers was an accomplished amateur watercolour painter of landscapes and riverscapes and journeyed regularly across the harbour to Panvel on the mainland. He also explored the nearby region of the Konkan and Western Ghats, and his pictures were clearly executed on the spot as he travelled. He repeatedly painted the forts, hills and pinnacles, often including trees and vegetation to enhance his compositions. He had considerable skill in capturing atmospheric effects, and his scenes have a distinct sense of reality. It was Chambers himself who probably inserted the pictures into three albums (IS.21 to 23-1994) by slitting the leaves and placing them mostly on separate pages. They are mostly in pencil and watercolour, with a few drawings in pen and ink or pencil. Besides views of Western India, the albums contain a few paintings of London and scenery in England, Scotland and Wales. This picture shows a view of the Bhor Ghat with the noted landmark 'The Duke’s Nose' at Khandala (Poona District, Bombay).
Bibliographic references
  • Rohatgi P. and Parlett G., assisted by Imray S. and Godrej P. Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists: Paintings and Drawings from the Victoria and Albert Museum, 17th to the early 20th century. Published by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, in association with V&A, London, 2008. ISBN 81-901020-9-5. p. 219, pl. 34
  • Patel, Divia; Rohatgi, Pauline and Godrej, Pheroza, "Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists: an exhibition of paintings and drawings from the 17th to the early 20th century organised by the V&A and CSMVS". Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai and Victoria and Albert Museum, 2008, ISBN:81-901020-8-7 p. 46
Collection
Accession number
IS.23:10-1994

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

Record createdJanuary 5, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest