Patna School

Two, bodycolour, one on paper watermarked: SMITH & ALLNUTT 1815Each 20.5 x 33.5 cmProvenance: Mrs BaldockThe artists of the Patna School specialised in the depiction of everyday activities for their British patrons. Traditionally described as the work of the Company School (reflecting the patronage of the East India Company employees) this unique genre evolved as the painting styles of Western and Mughal traditions merged.

Watercolour, bodycolour and gum arabic20.6 x 33.3 cmJerry Losty notes that this watercolour shows the influence of the lithographic portraits of Sir Charles D’Oyly, which depict ladies with their hair curling in the same fashionable way as in the present portrait.Provenance: Mrs Baldock