View of the wood bazaar, Simla
Painting
08/1853-11/1853 (made)
08/1853-11/1853 (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.
This painting shows the wood bazaar at Simla, the most famous of India's hill stations. Simla was 'discovered' by a party of British surveyors in 1817, and its comparatively cool climate led to its becoming, in 1864, the official summer headquarters of the Indian Government. Here the British administrators could continue their work away from the heat of the plains.
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.
This painting shows the wood bazaar at Simla, the most famous of India's hill stations. Simla was 'discovered' by a party of British surveyors in 1817, and its comparatively cool climate led to its becoming, in 1864, the official summer headquarters of the Indian Government. Here the British administrators could continue their work away from the heat of the plains.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | View of the wood bazaar, Simla (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | View of the wood bazaar in Simla by William Carpenter, painting, watercolour on paper, India, 1853. |
| Physical description | A street winding up a hillside with huts, adults and children, trees, and mountains in the background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | The wood Bazaar Simla: W. Carpenter 1853. |
| Gallery label | This painting shows the wood bazaar at Simla, the most famous of India's hill stations. Simla was 'discovered' by a party of British surveyors in 1817, and its comparatively cool climate led to its becoming, in 1864, the official summer headquarters of the Indian Government. Here the British administrators could continue their work away from the heat of the plains.(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. |
| 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. This painting shows the wood bazaar at Simla, the most famous of India's hill stations. Simla was 'discovered' by a party of British surveyors in 1817, and its comparatively cool climate led to its becoming, in 1864, the official summer headquarters of the Indian Government. Here the British administrators could continue their work away from the heat of the plains. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.63-1882 |
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| Record created | July 15, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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