Nautch party thumbnail 1
Nautch party thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Nautch party

Painting
ca. 1830 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one comes from a volume containing 30 folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processional scenes. It shows a nautch party (from Hindi 'nach', dance), with a dancer-girl followed by six male musicians and three other members of the party. The men are playing hand-cymbals, a European violin, a flute, a mridanga (drum) and a bagpipe.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleNautch party (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and gouache on paper
Brief description
Painting, gouache and watercolour, from an album of 30 Company paintings depicting a group of dancers and musicians, Tanjore, ca. 1830
Physical description
Nautch party; a dancing girl followed by six male musicians and three other members of the party. The men are playing hand cymbals, a violin, a flute, a meridanga and a bag pipe. The dancing girl and musicians are dressed mainly in white.
The violin was introduced from the Fort St George band by the brother of Murtusvari Diksikar, composer (1775-1835).
One of a volume of thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and procession scenes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39.5cm
  • Width: 58.5cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed in English: Tanjoor Natch
Object history
From a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions. Bought from Mr. G. Goolden who had it from his late cousin Richard Goolden. RP 87/672
Subjects depicted
Summary
The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one comes from a volume containing 30 folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processional scenes. It shows a nautch party (from Hindi 'nach', dance), with a dancer-girl followed by six male musicians and three other members of the party. The men are playing hand-cymbals, a European violin, a flute, a mridanga (drum) and a bagpipe.
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, 59 - 65 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.39:25-1987

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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