The term ‘Company painting’ is used by art historians to describe a distinct type of Indian painting produced for Europeans, heavily influenced by European tastes. Flourishing in the eighteenth and the nineteenth century, the Company style developed in various parts of India, representing to an attempt by Indian artists to work in a mixed Indo-European style that would appeal to Europeans employed by various East India companies (hence the name). Providing an objective observation of Indian scenes, particularly in natural history and human society, a majority of Company paintings focused on Indian flora and fauna and the Eastern-Western trade occurring in the region. In addition to painting new subjects, Indian artists gradually began to adjust their style and technique to suit the tastes of their new patrons. They modified their color palette from brilliant hues to muted tones prevalent in European engravings, such as soft blues, greens and sepia wash. They also adopted the use of perspective and shading in the Western tradition. (Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings: Indian Paintings of the British Period. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1992, pp. 11-18.)
The group of watercolors in this lot showcases a blend of Indo-European execution. While preserving certain attributes from Indian miniatures, such as the depiction of figures in profile, the Company style here softens the vivid colors typical of traditional Indian paintings. The portrayal of human figures is also more naturalistic, with faces more contoured and bodies better proportioned according to human anatomy. Although many details remain Indian, including the depiction of clothing, the introduction of landscape elements largely borrows from European painting traditions. The distant mountains indicate an attempt at perspective, and the multicolored tree leaves may even reference Impressionism.
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, houses an excellent collection of Company style paintings, including a group of 19 paintings depicting factory laborers (e.g., acc. no. 07361:1/(IS)) and a group of 35 paintings of people in various occupations (e.g., acc. no. IS.30-1964). A group of 28 watercolors of tradespeople and other figures was sold at Bonham’s London on 25 October 2022, lot 132. More recently, on 25 April 2024, a mid-19^th-century album of trades and occupations executed in Company style was sold at Christie’s London, lot 120, for £20,160.