Dancing Hall in the Palace of Raja Tirumala Nayak
Drawing
1840 - 1842 (made)
1840 - 1842 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Lieutenants Thomas Askwith Jenkins of the 33rd Madras Native Infantry and William Walter Whelpdale of the 19th Madras Native Infantry were stationed together at Pambam between 1838 and Whelpdale's death in 1842, giving us a firm date range for this painting. Ravanat Naik's identity is unknown, but he was probably working with them as a draughtsman on the Pamban Passage clearance; he may have been a Naik / Naigue, a rank equivalent to Corporal in the Madras Sappers, under Jenkins' command. Jenkins was supervising the Pamban Passage project, clearing a new shipping channel between the coast of Madras and Sri Lanka. Their headquarters was only a few miles across the same island from Rameshwaram, and a short boat trip up river from the Madras coast to the other sites at Madurai.
Along with seven other watercolours by the same team, and five by Justinian Gantz, it was presented to the Court of the Honourable East India Company on 16th January 1845 by a Captain Lock. The paintings were in the India Museum until five were transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1878.
Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, English soldiers and civil servants had been collecting information and images of the historic sites in India. In 1800-5, Colonel Mackenzie had drawings of the temple, and the 'choultry' of Tirumala Nayak at Madurai made for him by an Indian draughtsman. The present drawings are significant in illustrating the process by which Indian artists were recruited to help with military projects and archeological records. They also demonstrate the draughtsmanship which was an essential skill for military men, especially ones engaged in engineering projects.
Along with seven other watercolours by the same team, and five by Justinian Gantz, it was presented to the Court of the Honourable East India Company on 16th January 1845 by a Captain Lock. The paintings were in the India Museum until five were transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1878.
Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, English soldiers and civil servants had been collecting information and images of the historic sites in India. In 1800-5, Colonel Mackenzie had drawings of the temple, and the 'choultry' of Tirumala Nayak at Madurai made for him by an Indian draughtsman. The present drawings are significant in illustrating the process by which Indian artists were recruited to help with military projects and archeological records. They also demonstrate the draughtsmanship which was an essential skill for military men, especially ones engaged in engineering projects.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Dancing Hall in the Palace of Raja Tirumala Nayak (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Watercolour, mainly sepia, on paper |
Brief description | Architectural; Drawings; watercolour, Dancing Hall in the Palace of Raja Tirumala Nayak, Madurai, ca. 1840 |
Physical description | A watercolour of the Dancing Hall in the Palace of Raja Tirumala Nayak, Madurai |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed: Dancing Hall in Tremul Naig's Place, Madura and Drawn by Lieuts Jenkins and Whelpdale and Ravanat Naig |
Object history | Transferred from the India Museum, 1879 |
Summary | Lieutenants Thomas Askwith Jenkins of the 33rd Madras Native Infantry and William Walter Whelpdale of the 19th Madras Native Infantry were stationed together at Pambam between 1838 and Whelpdale's death in 1842, giving us a firm date range for this painting. Ravanat Naik's identity is unknown, but he was probably working with them as a draughtsman on the Pamban Passage clearance; he may have been a Naik / Naigue, a rank equivalent to Corporal in the Madras Sappers, under Jenkins' command. Jenkins was supervising the Pamban Passage project, clearing a new shipping channel between the coast of Madras and Sri Lanka. Their headquarters was only a few miles across the same island from Rameshwaram, and a short boat trip up river from the Madras coast to the other sites at Madurai. Along with seven other watercolours by the same team, and five by Justinian Gantz, it was presented to the Court of the Honourable East India Company on 16th January 1845 by a Captain Lock. The paintings were in the India Museum until five were transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1878. Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, English soldiers and civil servants had been collecting information and images of the historic sites in India. In 1800-5, Colonel Mackenzie had drawings of the temple, and the 'choultry' of Tirumala Nayak at Madurai made for him by an Indian draughtsman. The present drawings are significant in illustrating the process by which Indian artists were recruited to help with military projects and archeological records. They also demonstrate the draughtsmanship which was an essential skill for military men, especially ones engaged in engineering projects. |
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, 41 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 08101(IS) |
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Record created | June 25, 2009 |
Record URL |
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