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Not currently on display at the V&A

Bombay Green

Oil Painting
1807 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Indian scene painted in oil on cardboard is inscribed "Bombay Green drawn by R. Melville Grindlay 1807. Mundlay from the Bunder" and was given to the Indian Museum in London by the artist, through a man recorded only as "J. Mathews" in 1875. It was transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879. The view of Bombay Green is seen from the "bunder", the landing place on one of the man-made barriers protecting what was originally the island of Bombay. At the time the painting was done, the city now known as Mumbai was evolving from a group of islands into the peninsula that it is today. "Bombay Green", now Horniman Circle, was in the area of the Fort and was surrounded by buildings erected by the English East India Company as part of the administrative framework of the Bombay Presidency.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBombay Green (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Oil on cardboard
Brief description
Oil painting, "Bombay Green", by Captain R. Melville Grindlay, oil on cardboard, Mumbai, 1807
Physical description
This early view across Bombay Green, now Horniman Circle, includes St Thomas’ Church and Offices of the Company’s Secretaries on the right, with the Theatre on the extreme right. Cotton bales are being weighed on the Green. Grindlay painted this general view from near the East India Company’s warehouses. The title of the painting perhaps refers to a weekly trading event on the Green. The Bunder (landing ground) formed part of the Company’s main Factory building overlooking the harbour.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.4cm
  • Width: 43.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
Bombay Green drawn by R. Melville Grindlay 1807. Mundlay from the Bunder.
Gallery label
This early view across Bombay Green, now Horniman Circle, includes St Thomas' Church and Offices of the Company's Secretaries on the right, with the Theatre on the extreme right. Cotton bales are being weighed on the Green. Grindlay painted this general view from near the East India Company's warehouses. The title of the painting perhaps refers to a weekly trading event on the Green. The Bunder (landing ground) formed part of the Company's main Factory building overlooking the harbour.(1/12/2008)
Credit line
Given by Captain R. Melville Grindlay
Object history
Given to the Indian Museum in 1875 by Capt. Grindlay through J. Mathews and transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879.
Summary
This Indian scene painted in oil on cardboard is inscribed "Bombay Green drawn by R. Melville Grindlay 1807. Mundlay from the Bunder" and was given to the Indian Museum in London by the artist, through a man recorded only as "J. Mathews" in 1875. It was transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879. The view of Bombay Green is seen from the "bunder", the landing place on one of the man-made barriers protecting what was originally the island of Bombay. At the time the painting was done, the city now known as Mumbai was evolving from a group of islands into the peninsula that it is today. "Bombay Green", now Horniman Circle, was in the area of the Fort and was surrounded by buildings erected by the English East India Company as part of the administrative framework of the Bombay Presidency.
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. 214, pl. 27
  • 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.49
Collection
Accession number
4642 (IS)

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Record createdJuly 3, 2007
Record URL
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