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Lot Essay
The present watercolour was executed by an Indian artist who came into contact with the work of William Hodges (1744-1797). Although not a direct copy, the composition is very close to an oil painting by Hodges from the collection of Sir George Christie, B.t. D.L., included in Christie's London, Visions of India, 5 June 1996, lot 133.
The group of figures on the right of the composition is very similar but the Lucknow artist has added a group of dancing girls.
The Christie painting was executed out in India for Augustus Cleveland, a magistrate in Bhagulpur and passed to Christie through the family. It is possible that another version of the present composition was in existance in India in the earlier part of the 19th century as the Christie picture probably returned to England before the execution of the present watercolour (Cleveland died in 1783).
The group of figures on the right of the composition is very similar but the Lucknow artist has added a group of dancing girls.
The Christie painting was executed out in India for Augustus Cleveland, a magistrate in Bhagulpur and passed to Christie through the family. It is possible that another version of the present composition was in existance in India in the earlier part of the 19th century as the Christie picture probably returned to England before the execution of the present watercolour (Cleveland died in 1783).