Not currently on display at the V&A

Panoramic view of Thana creek

Painting
ca. 1791 (made)
Artist/Maker
Wales, James (artist)
Place of origin
India (made)

Based in Bombay, James Wales became fascinated by the cave temples of western India. In this view which looks southwest towards the Western Ghats, probably from Trombay Island, it is possible to see Elephanta Island with the fort and flag pole in the extreme right.


Object details

Category
Drawings
Object type
Painting
TitlePanoramic view of Thana creek (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink with watercolour on paper
Brief description
Panoramic view of Thana Creek, watercolour with pencil and ink, by James Wales, near Bombay (Mumbai), western India, ca. 1791
Physical description
Watercolour showing a landscape with bare earth and trees in the foreground. A figure is sitting under the nearest tree. The creek, a large expanse of water, is in the middle ground, while hills and, on the right, a fortress may be seen in the background on the far right. This has been identified as Elephanta Island and the view is believed to be looking south-west towards the Western Ghats, probably from Trombay Island.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30cm
  • Width: 35cm
Gallery label
In this view which looks southwest towards the Western Ghats, probably from Trombay Island, it is possible to see Elephanta Island with the fort and flag pole in the extreme right. Although Wales was primarily a portrait painter, his interest extended beyond portraiture. Based in Bombay (Mumbai) he became fascinated by the caves temples of western India. He introduced the Daniells to Elephanta in 1793. His tour of Ellora in 1795 led to a series of impressive paintings of the site which were posthumously published as engravings in 1803 by Thomas Daniell.(1/12/2008)
Credit line
Given by Pauline and Roy Rohatgi
Places depicted
Thana Creek
Elephanta
Summary
Based in Bombay, James Wales became fascinated by the cave temples of western India. In this view which looks southwest towards the Western Ghats, probably from Trombay Island, it is possible to see Elephanta Island with the fort and flag pole in the extreme right.
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.28
  • 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. London (V&A) and Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya), 2008. 356 p. ISBN 8190102095. p.166.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.168-2007

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Record createdAugust 19, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166139/panoramic-view-of-thana-creek-painting-wales-james/
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