Indian Company School Artist, Indian Bird, 18th Century, Watercolor, Set of 8

Details

Description

A set of original 1842 watercolour paintings – indian company school, group of 8 indian birds. An outstanding set of … Read more A set of original 1842 watercolour paintings – indian company school, group of 8 indian birds. An outstanding set of 8 ornithological indian company school paintings. Each is exquisitely painted in watercolour and opaque pigment on cream wove paper, with inscriptions verso. Subjects comprise: indian blossom-headed parakeet bird (inscribed verso: 'parroquete');indian bengal weaver bird (inscribed verso: 'emily m. Mackintosh';indian rufous treepie bird (inscribed verso: 'emily m. Mackintosh, an indian bird';indian plum-headed parakeet bird (inscribed verso: 'emily m. Mackintosh, parraquet "rosie[? possibly roseata]"';indian sparrowhawk shikra bird (inscribed verso: 'emily m. Mackintosh, a sort of hawk';indian bush quail bird (inscribed verso: 'emily m. Mackintosh, a partridge';indian white-rumped shama bird (inscribed verso: 'shamah';pair of indian hill partridges (inscribed verso: 'emily m. Mackintosh, an upcountry bird'. Each sheet approx.: 22.5 x 18.5cm. The collection was originally owned by 'emily m. Mackintosh', this being inscribed on the back of six of the paintings. This is presumed to be emily maria mackintosh (1833–1916), daughter of scotsman james mackintosh (1789–1869) of banffshire, who made his fortune in india with tea plantations. From the 1820s to 1840s james mackintosh was resident at calcutta, west bengal. Returning to scotland he bought a property in peebleshire he called lamancha. There is a birth certificate accompanying the collection for john lindoe mackintosh, born 1914 at rawal pindi to john burn mackintosh, a nephew of emily. Natural history subjects and india's native flora and fauna became popular amongst western patrons and collectors in the late 18th and early 19th century. In lucknow, general claude martin provided imported european paper to artists to prepare botanical studies and other natural history works, whilst in calcutta, mary, lady impey (wife of chief justice of the supreme court in bengal, elijah impey) had a menagerie where she employed artists to paint a variety of animals and birds. Also in calcutta, dr william roxburgh, superintendent of calcutta botanical garden from 1793, appointed local artists to make botanical studies of the specimens in his charge. The efforts of martin, impey, roxburgh and their artists gave rise to a large body of company paintings dedicated to natural history. Company school paintings of birds not only make for a valuable ornithological record, but also allow for beautiful decorative compositions, with jewel-like colours and fine feather detail. Dimensions: height: 22.5cm (8.86") width: 18.5cm (7.28")presented: unframed.medium: watercolourage: early 19th-centurysigned: no.inscribed: inscribed verso.dated: in blindstamp.condition: some minor age toning. Slight soft creasing in places. Two tiny nicks to the upper edge of 'pair of indian hill partridges'. Short repaired tear to the lower edge of 'indian bush quail bird'. Tiny, diffuse speckled marks to the paper and three short repaired tears to the right edge of 'indian white-rumped shama bird'. Please see photos for detail. See less