Two natch girls, Kashmir
Painting
08/1854 (made)
08/1854 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools. He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism.
After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A.
Nautch girls were a popular subject for artists and this idealised painting typifies the kind of romantic sentiment that was inspired by the landscapes and people of Kashmir.
After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A.
Nautch girls were a popular subject for artists and this idealised painting typifies the kind of romantic sentiment that was inspired by the landscapes and people of Kashmir.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Two natch girls, Kashmir (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting of two Kashmiri dancing girls by William Carpenter, watercolour on paper, Kashmir, India, 1854 |
| Physical description | Two nautch girls elaborately costumed and bejewelled seated in a terrace, the one on the left smoking a huqqa, with mountains in the distance through the window. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Kashmere Nautch Srinagar Aug 1854 (Inscription; decoration) |
| Gallery label | Nautch girls were a popular subject for artists and this idealised painting typifies the kind of romantic sentiment that was inspired by the landscapes and people of Kashmir. (1/12/2008) |
| Credit line | Museum numbers IS.33-1888 to IS.166-1888 purchased from Mr. Carpenter for £500 |
| Object history | Historical significance: William Carpenter (1818-99) William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools, and was the eldest son of the distinguished portrait painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter and William Hookham Carpenter, who became Keeper of the Prints and Drawings Department at the British Museum. He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism. After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | William Carpenter was trained at the Royal Academy Schools. He was in India from 1850 t0 1856, during which time he travelled extensively from Bombay (Mumbai) and across western India to Rajasthan, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore and Afghanistan. His depiction of every day street scenes and groups of people is remarkably accurate and animated, his portraits vividly capturing the character of his sitters and the glowing effects of sunlight as cityscapes and architectural monuments. Brilliantly executed in a range of warm colours, his watercolours evoke a gentle romanticism. After his return to England, The Illustrated London News published some of his watercolours. In 1881, he exhibited 275 of his paintings in a one-man show in the South Kensington Museum, London. This entire collection was subsequently acquired by the V&A. Nautch girls were a popular subject for artists and this idealised painting typifies the kind of romantic sentiment that was inspired by the landscapes and people of Kashmir. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.157-1882 |
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| Record created | July 11, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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