Not currently on display at the V&A

An album containing fifty-three drawings depicting occupations.

Painting
ca.1815 - ca. 1820 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This watercolour belongs to an album of 53 paintings depicting miscellaneous occupations and activities, and was done in Lucknow, probably in c. 1815-20. The caption identifies the stones being polished with a traditional bow drill as carnelians. The depiction of a woman doing this kind of work in an industry dominated by men is unusual.
‘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

Categories
Object type
TitleAn album containing fifty-three drawings depicting occupations. (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour
Brief description
Painting, 'A woman polishing cornelians' from an album containing fifty-three drawings depicting occupations, Lucknow, ca.1815-20
Physical description
A woman polishing carnelians using a bow lathe. From an album containing 53 drawings depicting occupations. The woman sits with a wheel, in front of a wall and sloping roof, both topped with thatch.
Dimensions
  • Length: 22.5cm
  • Width: 15cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Inscribed with identifications in Urdu and sometimes English.)
  • 'A woman polishing cornelians' (Inscribed:)
Subjects depicted
Summary
This watercolour belongs to an album of 53 paintings depicting miscellaneous occupations and activities, and was done in Lucknow, probably in c. 1815-20. The caption identifies the stones being polished with a traditional bow drill as carnelians. The depiction of a woman doing this kind of work in an industry dominated by men is unusual.
‘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 references
  • Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 125 p. ISBN 0944142303
  • The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 Number: ISBN 0 906969 26 3 Skelton, Robert; cat. no. 100
Other number
7970 - Previous number
Collection
Accession number
AL.7970:13

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Record createdJanuary 18, 2000
Record URL
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