Portrait
late 19th century (painted)
late 19th century (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This portrait depicts an anonymous prince of the Marathas. He is wearing an elaborate, European-style military uniform, with gold braid and epaulettes, a 'sarpesh' (turban jewel), and a dagger in his waistband. The artist may well have copied the picture from a photograph.
This portrait is very unusual because it is painted on conch shell. There are only two conch shell pictures in the V&A's collection. Most Company Paintings (pictures made by Indian artists for the British) are on paper, ivory, or mica (talc).
This portrait is very unusual because it is painted on conch shell. There are only two conch shell pictures in the V&A's collection. Most Company Paintings (pictures made by Indian artists for the British) are on paper, ivory, or mica (talc).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque water-colour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting of a Maratha prince in a military officer's jacket, gouache on conch shell, Delhi, late 19th century. |
| Physical description | An oval portrait of a Maratha prince in a military officer's jacket. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Object history | Purchased from the executors of Mrs F.B.P. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This portrait depicts an anonymous prince of the Marathas. He is wearing an elaborate, European-style military uniform, with gold braid and epaulettes, a 'sarpesh' (turban jewel), and a dagger in his waistband. The artist may well have copied the picture from a photograph. This portrait is very unusual because it is painted on conch shell. There are only two conch shell pictures in the V&A's collection. Most Company Paintings (pictures made by Indian artists for the British) are on paper, ivory, or mica (talc). |
| 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 227 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.90-1960 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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