Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) is hosting “A Treasury of Life: Indian Company Paintings, c. 1790 to 1835,” the most extensive exhibition of Company paintings ever held in India. The collection comprises over 200 artworks commissioned by British East India Company officials and painted by Indian artists, many of whom were formerly employed by the Mughal court.
These paintings, primarily created between 1790 and 1835, are categorized into three main themes:
Natural History: Detailed studies of India’s diverse flora and fauna.
Architecture: Depictions of significant monuments and landscapes, including works by artist Sita Ram, who painted the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri.
Manners and Customs: Illustrations of Indian societal practices and daily life.
Curator Giles Tillotson notes that these works reflect the British attempt to understand and document the unfamiliar aspects of Indian society and environment during colonial times. The exhibition brings to light the artistic excellence of largely unnamed Indian artists and offers insight into the cultural exchanges of the colonial era.
Adapted from content originally published by BBC News.
