Title
The Bombay Sata and his wife- who deals in the long cloth and calico
18th century
Artist
Company style
late 18th century – late 19th century
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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India
- Date
- 18th century
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- opaque watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- 22.2 x 18.5 cm sight
- Credit
- Gift of Dr Jim Masselos 2022
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 292.2022
- Artist information
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Company style
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
The so-called ‘Company School’ emerged in the latter part of the 18th century when the British overthrew both the Mughal and the Rajput rulers of India. Indian artists, who had previously painted for Mughal and Rajput patrons, instead began painting for the English residents of India, many of whom were employed with the British East India Company. Pictures painted for the British by Indian artists to suit the taste of the new clients came to be known as ‘Company Painting’. Company school artists mostly recorded the occupations and customs of local populations but were also commissioned to document architectural sites and undertake works of scientific investigation including studies of botanical specimens and local fauna.
Several distinct styles and sub-schools of Company painting developed throughout India as well as regions beyond, such as Sri Lanka and Burma. This painting, characteristic of Company School painting shows a neatly drawn couple that would have been part of a series depicting different castes and occupations, many holding tools of their trade, set against bright, opaque backgrounds or instead against the white of the paper.
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Places
Where the work was made
India
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Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
Divine and Courtly Life in Indian Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Oct 1991–08 Jan 1992
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Bibliography
Referenced in 1 publication
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Jim Masselos, Divine and courtly life in Indian painting, Sydney, 1991. cat. no. 8.6
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