One of two portraits.
Painting
ca. 1860 (painted)
ca. 1860 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A local artist painted this portrait of Raja Sarabhoji of Tanjore (Thanjavur) on glass around 1860. The raja is holding a flower. This is a common feature of portraits of Indian rulers. It symbolises the sitter's sensitive and cultured nature.
Most Company Paintings (pictures made by Indian artists for the British) were on paper or, less common, on ivory and mica (talc). Artists also occasionally used cloth, wood, or even conch shell. Chinese artists appear to have introduced glass-painting into India in the late 18th century. Glass-paintings were fragile and so the British seldom brought them back to England. This is one of only eight in the V&A.
Most Company Paintings (pictures made by Indian artists for the British) were on paper or, less common, on ivory and mica (talc). Artists also occasionally used cloth, wood, or even conch shell. Chinese artists appear to have introduced glass-painting into India in the late 18th century. Glass-paintings were fragile and so the British seldom brought them back to England. This is one of only eight in the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | One of two portraits. (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Gouache and gold leaf on glass |
| Brief description | Painting; gouache and gold leaf on glass, Head and shoulders portrait of Raja Sarabhoji of Tanjore holding a flower, Tanjore, ca.1860 |
| Physical description | Head and shoulders portrait of Raja Sarabhoji of Tanjore holding a flower. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A local artist painted this portrait of Raja Sarabhoji of Tanjore (Thanjavur) on glass around 1860. The raja is holding a flower. This is a common feature of portraits of Indian rulers. It symbolises the sitter's sensitive and cultured nature. Most Company Paintings (pictures made by Indian artists for the British) were on paper or, less common, on ivory and mica (talc). Artists also occasionally used cloth, wood, or even conch shell. Chinese artists appear to have introduced glass-painting into India in the late 18th century. Glass-paintings were fragile and so the British seldom brought them back to England. This is one of only eight in the V&A. |
| 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 192 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.85-1960 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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