www.indianminiaturepaintings.co.uk
Enter GALLERIES to browse paintings
The description in English of the painting on this webpage is definitive description. Any translation using Google translate is a guide only - its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and it is used at your own risk.
Above: Rao Desalji II
Above: a thakur (landed gentry in service to the rao)
Two folios from a Company School/Anglo-Indian series of personages, castes and occupations of Kutch in Gujarat: Rao Desalji (19.3 x 17.1cm) a thakur (21.5 x 15.8cm). Kutch, probably at Bhuj, circa 1857- 59. Opaque watercolour on English Whatmans Turkey Mill watermarked paper, one with date 1857.
The portrait of Rao Desalji II was pasted onto paper (probably a near-contemporary album page) with an English hand-written inscription in ink: Rao of Kutch, 1859
In 1819 the British gained residency at Kutch and became on good terms with ruler Rao Desalji II (r. 1819-1860). The Suez Canal along with the development of the cotton trade brought new wealth; by mid-century local artists followed to gain British patronage for a highly competent and appealing variant on the Company School traditions which had been established elsewhere.
Inventory LC000183 SOLD
Hover cursor over image to zoom
Hover cursor over image to zoom
Above: Whatmans watermark including date 1857
Above: Whatmans Turkey Mill watermark
Images and text © Peter Blohm