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Lot Essay
As early as the first half of the 18th Century, the East India Company employed Indian artists to assist with the survey of the area. As they came into contact with the British, the Indian artists began to absorb European methods of composition and perspective, not only appreciating British techniques, but also beginning to understand British tastes and the desire to collect images of Indian life.
Sets of watercolours were executed showing men and women of different castes in costumes which related to their trade or occupation. In the earliest examples the background was kept to broad stripes of blue, green, or yellow, with a thin bank of cloud across the upper edge. An attempt to follow the European tradition of three-dimensionality and volume resulted in dark hoops beneath each figure to represent shadow. Towards the turn of the century, a zig-zag of white was introduced across the sky to delineate a great cumulus cloud and the landscape of diminutive trees, bushes and thatched huts across the horizon became more precise.
A similar set of watercolours depicting tradesmen sold at Christie's, London, 7 October 2009, lot 140 and at Christie's South Kensington, 10 June 2013, lot 40.
Sets of watercolours were executed showing men and women of different castes in costumes which related to their trade or occupation. In the earliest examples the background was kept to broad stripes of blue, green, or yellow, with a thin bank of cloud across the upper edge. An attempt to follow the European tradition of three-dimensionality and volume resulted in dark hoops beneath each figure to represent shadow. Towards the turn of the century, a zig-zag of white was introduced across the sky to delineate a great cumulus cloud and the landscape of diminutive trees, bushes and thatched huts across the horizon became more precise.
A similar set of watercolours depicting tradesmen sold at Christie's, London, 7 October 2009, lot 140 and at Christie's South Kensington, 10 June 2013, lot 40.