Page 227 - Eye of the beholder

As the British started emerging as the dominant political force in the Indian subcontinent, their presence was felt in the realm of arts as well. As the patronage from the ruling dynasties waned, the erstwhile miniature painters seeked out new commissions among the rising clientele of the British gentry and nobility. This lead to the creation of a new market for paintings of 'Indian exotica' - flora, fauna, and castes & occupations.
Starting from early-mid 19th century, there was a preponderance of paintings depicting anthropological, zoological and botanical subjects in a new quasi-realistic style that came to be known as the 'Company School' or 'kampani kalam'. These paintings are known for their vividness and their high-quality realism. Provenance is of incredible importance in case of company school paintings, with the top end of the market being reserved for works commissioned by Col. Pollier, Elijah Impey , William Fraser and suchlike which aspire for prices in the six- digit range.
Today, collectors aggressively seek out the better examples of this school of painting, which are getting increasingly difficult to acquire. These three paintings are new acquisitions in the Sadhu collection. I still need to research them properly, decipher the Urdu text, and identify the ornithological specimens. But, the three works have a jewel-like quality, and are no doubt by a good hand.
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