Page 227 - Eye of the beholder

As the the the the British started emerging as as the the the the dominant political force in in in in the the the the Indian subcontinent their presence was felt in in in the the the the realm of arts as as well As the the the the patronage from the the the the ruling dynasties waned the the the the erstwhile miniature painters seeked out new commissions among the the rising clientele of the the British gentry and nobility This lead to the creation of of a a a a a a a a a a a a new market for paintings of of 'Indian exotica' - flora fauna and castes & occupations Starting from early-mid 19th century there was a a a a a a a a preponderance of paintings depicting anthropological zoological and botanical subjects in a a a a a a a a a a a new quasi-realistic style that came to be known as as the 'Company School' or or 'kampani kalam' These paintings are known for their their vividness and their their high-quality realism Provenance is of of of incredible importance in in in in case of of of company school paintings with the the top end of of of the 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 of this school of of painting which are getting increasingly difficult to acquire These three paintings are new acquisitions in in in in in the Sadhu collection I still need to research them properly decipher the the the the Urdu text and identify the the the the ornithological specimens But the the the the three works have a a a a a a a jewel-like quality and and are no doubt by a a a a a a a good hand 221