Set of Five Antique Indian Figurative Paintings

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This series of five Indian miniature paintings dates to the 19th century, when India transitioned from being governed by The … Read more This series of five Indian miniature paintings dates to the 19th century, when India transitioned from being governed by The East India Company to the British Raj, directly ruled under the Crown. At the time, regional Indian schools frequently depicted local lifestyles, religious figures and historical nobility like these five watercolors for visiting Westerners.

SUBJECTS: The collection contains two distinct thematic sets based on the subjects' attire, items, and social standing. From left to right in the overall photo, the first four works show itinerant musicians and ascetics. Painting 1: A young, barefoot ascetic sits cross-legged on a low wooden stool, holding a small cylindrical pipe. A multi-stringed plucked lute rests against his back. Painting 2: A seated Muslim mystic or dervish holds small loose manuscript slips or prayer books in his right hand while fingering a long strand of prayer beads in his left. Painting 3: A standing wandering minstrel carries a travel pouch over his shoulder and holds up a plucked stringed instrument. The small bowl in his other hand identifies him as mendicant collecting alms. Painting 4: An elderly holy man or scholar with a draped shoulder bag, sits on a wooden stool while smoking a traditional narrow pipe or blowing a whistle instrument. These four works appear to have been painted by the same hand.

Separately, pictured on the far right, is a work done in formal court style and in more muted washes by a different painter. This is a royal portrait showing a high-ranking nobleman or ruler. He is depicted in a classic Mughal imperial style profile posture and is framed within a radiant halo indicating divine or royal status. He sits at a low balcony window reading an opened manuscript scroll or book.

SOURCE: The first four paintings strongly resemble regional bazaar folk-art paintings. Rather than being crafted for internal court consumption, these sets were specifically painted for foreign visitors, British officers and European tourists during the 19th-century colonial period. Foreign collectors frequently commissioned or bought serialized albums depicting local occupations, religious sects and regional dress as souvenirs of Indian cultural life. In an era when capturing the exotic scenes and populations experienced while traveling, to be shared back home, couldn’t be done in milliseconds with a small pocket device, these did the trick.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Nonexistent. Image dimensions (#1-4): 7 inches high x 3.5 inches wide. Image dimensions (#5): 5 inches high x 4.5 inches wide. Framed dimensions (#5) 10 inches high x 9.5 inches wide x 0.50 inches deep. See less