Rare Paintings
 23 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Benares from the Ganges - 1898.

Water-colour painting of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, from the Ganges by Lyndon Herbert (fl. 1879-1898) in 1898. Inscribed on the front is: 'Herbert Lyndon. 98.'

The River Ganges is said to have descended from heaven to earth and is regarded by Hindus as amrita, ... Read More
 22 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The Jami Masjid at Delhi from the north-east - 1815.

Watercolour of Jami Masjid in Delhi from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Gheen to Delhi Vol. VI' produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1814-15. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal and the... Read More
 22 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Three domed mosque - 1820.

Watercolour by Sir Charles D'Oyly of a three domed mosque from an album in red leather covers with a gold stamped border, containing 28 water-colours of a trip along the Bhagirathi and Ganges Rivers, dated August to October 1820. The trip must have been to take up hi... Read More
 20 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
SAMARANGANA SUTRADHARA is an encyclopedic work on classical Indian architecture (Vastu Shastra) written by Paramara King Bhoja of Dhar (1000-1055 AD).

In 83 chapters, subjects treated are town planning, house architecture, temple architecture and sculptural arts together with Mudras (the diffe... Read More
 19 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Durga Puja - 1809

Watercolour depicting a Durga Puja, by Sevak Ram (c.1770-c.1830) in the Patna style, c.1809.Durga is a form of the Great Goddess Devi; she is considered to be one in a variety of personalities of the Hindu goddess. She is most well known as the goddess who killed the Buffalo ... Read More
 18 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Ancient Pillars at Bhaughulpoor and modern Hindoo Temple erected by Juggut Sect - Septwmber 1820

Watercolour by Sir Charles D'Oyly of ancient Pillars at Bhagalpur in Bihar, with a modern Hindu Temple erected by the Juggut sect, from an album in red leather covers with a gold stamped border, co... Read More
 18 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The inside of the opium godown at Patna, showing a staircase rising on increasingly high arches - 1814.

Watercolour of the interior of an opium factory in Patna from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Patna to Benares Vol. II' produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram bet... Read More
 15 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
TILLY KETTLE (1735-86) in Madras.

When Kettle arrived at Madras, barely four months had passed since Haidar Ali, ruler of Mysore, and his troops had threatened to invade the city. But the Treaty of Madras between Haidar Ali and the British had concluded the first Mysore war, and Kettle was abl... Read More
 15 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The shrine of Shah Arzani at Patna - 1814.

Watercolour of the Shrine of Shah Arzani in Patna from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Patna to Benares Vol. II' was produced for the Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1814-15. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-General of ... Read More
 14 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Temple of Srirangam, Trichinopoly - 1850

Goache painting on mica of the temple of Srirangam, by an anonymous artist working in the Trichinopoly style, c.1850. Inscribed: 'Temple of Streerangam, Trichinopoly.'

The holy island of Srirangam, near Tiruchchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, is surrounded by t... Read More
 13 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Fort Defiance (also called Tamkam) near Madura - June 1784

Watercolour painting of Fort Defiance near Madurai in Tamil Nadu, by Colin MacKenzie, dated June 1784. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'Fort Defiance near Madura before it was repaired by Mr John(n)s (?)June 1784. C. McK.'

Colin M... Read More
 13 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The Kutub and Iron Pillar, Delhi - November 1878

Oil painting on paper of the Qutb Minar at Delhi by Marianne North (1830-1890), dated November 1878. The Qutb Minar was originally built as a tower of victory but also doubled as a minaret used by the Muezzin to summon the faithful to prayer. St... Read More
 13 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The Kutub, Delhi - November 1878

Oil painting on paper of the Qutb Minar at Delhi by Marianne North (1830-1890), dated November 1878. The Qutb Minar was originally built as a tower of victory but also doubled as a minaret; used by the Muezzin to summon the faithful to prayer. Started by Qutb-u... Read More
 10 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Square at Bangalore - The Entrance of Tippoo's Palace, Bangalore - Feb. 1792

Water-colour painting of Tipu Sultan's palace at Bangalore by James Hunter (d. 1792) in 1792. Inscribed on the front is: 'Square at Bangalore' and on the reverse: 'The Entrance of Tippoo's Palace, Bangalore Feby. 92' ... Read More
 9 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The Web of Indian life
By Sister Nivedita (aka Margaret E Noble)
Published by William Heinneman, London - 1904

Sister Nivedita (1867-1911), born Margaret Elizabeth Noble, was an Anglo-Irish social worker, author, teacher and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She met Vivekananda in 1895 in Londo... Read More
 9 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
General view of the valley, Ajanta - 1895.

Photograph of the ravine towards the cave-temples of Ajanta, in Maharashtra, taken by Deen Dayal in the 1890s. In 1819 a group of tiger-hunting British soldiers discovered the Ajanta caves in the jungles of a ravine. The thirty magnificent cave temple... Read More
 9 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Buddhist Caves, Ajanta - 1867

This chromolithograph is taken from Plate 29 of William Simpson's 'India: Ancient and Modern'. The ancient Buddhist site of Ajanta had been discovered by chance by a group of tiger-hunting British soldiers in 1819. Remote from cities but close to old trade routes,... Read More
 9 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
The facade of an 18th century building at Benares - 1814

Watercolour of a building facade in Varanasi from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Benares to Nazibghur Vol. III' produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1814-15. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-Gener... Read More
 7 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
View on the Ganges with a large monastic building above a ghat and a small mosque beyond, with Hindu flag poles amongst the trees - 1795.

Watercolour of a view on the river Ganges, by an anonymous artist working in the Murshidabad style, part of the Hyde Collection, c. 1790-1800. Inscribed on ... Read More
 7 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Ryacotta in the Barramahal - 1802

Plate 12 from the third set of Thomas and William Daniells' 'Oriental Scenery.' Rayakottai is an ancient fortress in the Baramahal (the hilly country between the Mysore plateau and the plains of Tamil Nadu) which became part of a chain of military outposts use... Read More
 7 Jul 2010 Rare Paintings
Elephants crossing a bridge of boats over the Bhagirathi at Suti - 1821

Watercolour of elephants crossing a bridge at Suti from an album of miscellaneous views of Bengal produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1820-21. Marquess of Hastings, the Governo... Read More