Face Value

In a book published alongside the exhibition,Singh traces the history of royal portraits in India,from portraitures under the Mughal rule to the arrival of Jesuit priests and European merchants who introduced more naturalistic depiction of the noble visage. The exhibition comprises a work of Benjamin Hudson,who arrived in Calcutta in 1854,almost 100 years after Tilly Kettle,the first European portrait painter came to India. Photographers were preparing enlargements which were painted in oil by artists who added elements and architectural details. The Raja Ravi Varma school is represented by a series of artists,as are anonymous artists painting royalty and religious leaders. Back in 1965,Fatima Ahmed was commissioned by Air India to do a mural in Rome. Portraits of victims of the 1943 Bengal famine are documented by Gobardhan Shah and Chittaprasad. We also see a 1896 pastel of a young girl by Abindranath Tagore’s mentor,O Gilhardi. First principal of Kala Bhavan in Shantiniketan,Asit Kumar Haldar has a bust of Rabindranath Tagore. There are portraits of political figures as well — from early-mid 20th century wood engraving of Gandhi by Ramendranath Chakravorty to Jawaharlal Nehru’s oil by KS Kulkarni and KK Hebbar’s 1972 oil of Indira Gandhi. Wasim Kapoor paints former President of America,Gerald Ford.

It was while researching for the show that Singh discovered artists lost in time. “There were several oils in our collection which were anonymous and while preparing for the show we discovered signatures. No one knew about these artists. They were self-taught and worked in royal ateliers,” he says. Among them is Parsi artist Koulji Ardeshir Tachakra who was active in late 18th century.

There is also artists’ perception of themselves that comes forth in numerous self-portraits. A young FN Souza paints himself with chiselled features in 1940,and in a more rounded,disturbing projection in 1976. PT Reddy wears his collar up in a 1938 oil and Jamini Roy is sombre in his gouache. There is a lot more of art history in the process of being discovered. Lined up are shows on still life and abstract. “These are all themes people connect with instantly,”says Singh.

The exhibition at Delhi Art Gallery,11,Hauz Khas Village,is on till October 26. Contact: 46005300.

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