Not currently on display at the V&A

One of four drawings of inhabitants of Delhi.

Painting
ca.1815 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Company painting is from a set of four depicting inhabitants of Delhi in about 1815; they may have been painted by Faiz Ali Khan. The seven ascetics and their attendant are all dressed in fantastic attire: one wears a tasselled costume, one carries a tasselled umbrella, one wears a huge turban, and one is accompanied by five monkeys and three dogs. These ascetics were well-known characters in Delhi. The effete figure with tassels hanging from his waist was called Sarhaj, a Brahmin of the Chaube caste from Gokal, Brindaban, known as 'Mr Flowery Man'.

'Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleOne of four drawings of inhabitants of Delhi. (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, Portraits of seven ascetics, Delhi, ca.1815
Physical description
Portraits of seven ascetics and an attendant, all in fantastic attire. They are accompanied by five monkeys and three dogs.
Dimensions
  • Length: 32.5cm
  • Width: 41cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Miss M. Letitia Harford, OBE
Object history
Dalrymple, William and Sharma, Yuthika (eds). Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi, 1707-1857. New York : Asia Society ; New Haven [Conn.] : Yale University Press, 2012. ISBN 9780300176667 ; 030017666X. p. 139, cat. no. 54.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This Company painting is from a set of four depicting inhabitants of Delhi in about 1815; they may have been painted by Faiz Ali Khan. The seven ascetics and their attendant are all dressed in fantastic attire: one wears a tasselled costume, one carries a tasselled umbrella, one wears a huge turban, and one is accompanied by five monkeys and three dogs. These ascetics were well-known characters in Delhi. The effete figure with tassels hanging from his waist was called Sarhaj, a Brahmin of the Chaube caste from Gokal, Brindaban, known as 'Mr Flowery Man'.

'Company paintings' were produced by Indian artists for Europeans living and working in the Indian subcontinent, especially British employees of the East India Company. They represent a fusion of traditional Indian artistic styles with conventions and technical features borrowed from western art. Some Company paintings were specially commissioned, while others were virtually mass-produced and could be purchased in bazaars.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 155 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.69-1977

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 createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest