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Lot Essay
Archibald Herman Muller was born of a German father and an Indian mother. Muller joined the Madras Art School where his work was highly regarded. After graduation he worked in his brother's photographic studio, but by 1910 he had moved to Bombay. In 1911 he won the Bombay Art Society's top painting award for a work titled Princess Giving Gift to a Brahmin Boy.
Unfortunately his early success did not lead to steady employment and even after the War he struggled to find patrons, working for a time in the court of Bikaner and later in Jodhpur.
Muller responded to nationalism by using the Ramayana and Mahabharata for inspiration. His historical narratives were based on the study of the nude, a genre that demonstrated his skills in naturalism. The strength of Muller's paintings lay in a sure knowledge of human anatomy and a fluid and elegant deployment of multiple figures.
Unfortunately his early success did not lead to steady employment and even after the War he struggled to find patrons, working for a time in the court of Bikaner and later in Jodhpur.
Muller responded to nationalism by using the Ramayana and Mahabharata for inspiration. His historical narratives were based on the study of the nude, a genre that demonstrated his skills in naturalism. The strength of Muller's paintings lay in a sure knowledge of human anatomy and a fluid and elegant deployment of multiple figures.