A branch of a mango tree ('Mangifera Indica') bearing unripe fruits
Painting
ca. 1780 (made)
ca. 1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one was originally in the collection of Sir Elijah Impey and Lady Impey, who commissioned over 300 pictures in Calcutta between 1777 and 1782. Sir Elijah was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Fort William. He was a man of great intellect and wide-ranging interests. The Impeys were passionately interested in the flora and fauna of India and formed a private menagerie at their house, where they assembled birds and animals. From 1777 they employed three Indian artists to paint their collection. One of them was the Hindu artist Bhawani Das, who made this picture around 1780.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | A branch of a mango tree ('Mangifera Indica') bearing unripe fruits (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting; watercolour, a branch of a mango tree bearing unripe mangoes, Calcutta, ca. 1780 |
| Physical description | A branch of a mango tree (Mangifera indica) bearing unripe mangoes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'am. Bhawani Das. In the collection of Lady Impey.' (English and Persian; Roman) |
| Object history | Made for Sir Elijah and Lady Impey of Calcutta, c.1780 and along with 63 other bird, animal and plant studies given to the Linnean Society, London. The collection was sold at Sotheby's, London, on 10 June 1963 and this painting was bought by the museum after the auction from Maggs for £33. Purchased from Maggs Brothers Ltd, London W1 in 1963. |
| Production | Made for Sir Elijah Impey of Calcutta , c.1780. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one was originally in the collection of Sir Elijah Impey and Lady Impey, who commissioned over 300 pictures in Calcutta between 1777 and 1782. Sir Elijah was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Fort William. He was a man of great intellect and wide-ranging interests. The Impeys were passionately interested in the flora and fauna of India and formed a private menagerie at their house, where they assembled birds and animals. From 1777 they employed three Indian artists to paint their collection. One of them was the Hindu artist Bhawani Das, who made this picture around 1780. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.52-1963 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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