Village scene in Dhampur, and A View of the Himalayas

Details

James Manson (1791-1862)
Village scene in Dhampur, and A View of the Himalayas
the first signed and dated 'J. Manson/1826' (lower left) and further inscribed 'Koorinch a village in Dhampur' (on the reverse of the mount); the second signed and dated 'J. Manson/1826' (lower left) and further inscribed 'View of the Himalaya Mountains from a Range about ten miles north of Almorah (on the reverse of the mount)
pencil, watercolour, gum arabic and pen and black ink, unframed
11 x 15½ in. (27.9 x 38.4 cm.); and slightly smaller (2)

Provenance

Maurice Shellim, from whom purchased by the present owners, November 1972 and March 1973 respectively.

Exhibited

India Observed, nos 118 and 119 respectively.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Manson assisted his brother in compiling a comprehensive mineral survey of the Himalayan mountains between the Sutlej and Kalee rivers, and while working on this project between 1823 and 1828 executed some watercolours depicting the many isolated mountain villages.

Stylistically similar to the twelve drawings in the India Office Library (see M. Archer, 1969, p. 558-9), these watercolours have a naive manner and boldness of form. The first depicts the threshing of grain outside a traditional thatched stone dwelling.

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