One of four drawings of inhabitants of Delhi.
Painting
ca.1815 (made)
ca.1815 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Company painting is from a set of four depicting inhabitants of Delhi in about 1815; they may have been painted by Faiz Ali Khan. The seven ascetics and their attendant are all dressed in fantastic attire: one wears a tasselled costume, one carries a tasselled umbrella, one wears a huge turban, and one is accompanied by five monkeys and three dogs. These ascetics were well-known characters in Delhi. The effete figure with tassels hanging from his waist was called Sarhaj, a Brahmin of the Chaube caste from Gokal, Brindaban, known as 'Mr Flowery Man'.
'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.
'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
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | One of four drawings of inhabitants of Delhi. (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Portraits of seven ascetics, Delhi, ca.1815 |
| Physical description | Portraits of seven ascetics and an attendant, all in fantastic attire. They are accompanied by five monkeys and three dogs. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Miss M. Letitia Harford, OBE |
| Object history | Dalrymple, William and Sharma, Yuthika (eds). Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi, 1707-1857. New York : Asia Society ; New Haven [Conn.] : Yale University Press, 2012. ISBN 9780300176667 ; 030017666X. p. 139, cat. no. 54. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This Company painting is from a set of four depicting inhabitants of Delhi in about 1815; they may have been painted by Faiz Ali Khan. The seven ascetics and their attendant are all dressed in fantastic attire: one wears a tasselled costume, one carries a tasselled umbrella, one wears a huge turban, and one is accompanied by five monkeys and three dogs. These ascetics were well-known characters in Delhi. The effete figure with tassels hanging from his waist was called Sarhaj, a Brahmin of the Chaube caste from Gokal, Brindaban, known as 'Mr Flowery Man'. '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 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 155 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.69-1977 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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