Company Paintings
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The ongoing exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art documents major expressions of 19th century Indian Art, showcasing a mixed style with elements from both Indian Miniatures and European naturalism, reflecting the values and aspirations of the time. The genre is popularly known as Company School. It was so named because it emerged primarily under the patronage of the East India Company. The officials of the company were interested in paintings that could capture the ‘picturesque’ and the ‘exotic’ aspect of the land. Company paintings were first produced in the Madras Presidency, in South India. The style soon disseminated to other parts of India such as Calcutta, Murshidabad, Patna, Benares, Lucknow, Agra, Delhi, Punjab and cities in Western India. It remained a popular form until the introduction of photography in India in 1840, which brought about a new dimension to painting, objective reality.
Company Paintings, until 31 July, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi. For further information, email [email protected]/[email protected]
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