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Journalism of Courage
A unique exhibition,billed as the first of its kind in the UK,will tell the story of the Indian portrait over three centuries,exploring the fascinating ways in which artists have approached the depiction of the human form and the changing role of portraiture.
Bringing together 60 exquisite works from international collections,the exhibition will celebrate the beauty,power and humanity of these works of art.
“The Indian Portrait 1560 – 1860” at the National Portrait Gallery here from March 11 till June 20 is being curated by Rosemary Crill,senior curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum and Kapil Jariwala,an independent curator.
Starting with the Mughal court,the presentation includes some of the earliest realistic images of emperors and magnificent court portraits,as well as studies of Mughal courtiers,holy men and servants.
The distinctive regional styles from Rajasthan and the Punjab Hills are also shown alongside the European-influenced works produced by Indian artists under British rule.
These paintings are a record of a rich and complex history,embracing influences from Iran and Europe as well as local Hindu and Muslim traditions,showing that the Indian portrait can stand shoulder to shoulder with outstanding examples of portraiture from around the world.
Important works include: two pages from the Padshahnama made for Shah Jahan,now in the Royal Collection; a huge Mughal cloth painting of the Emperor Jahangir; and a pair of images of the Mughal courtier Inayat Khan close to death,which have never previously been shown together in the UK.
There are also striking portraits such as those of Amar Singh II of Mewar taking his ease,and the Maratha general Ram Rao Phalke,which call for a re-examination of portraiture in India.
“These beautiful paintings offer glimpses into the cultures that have flourished in the Indian subcontinent,as well as authoritative images of captivating individuals living through the 300-year span of the exhibition,” says Sandy Nairne,director of the National Portrait Gallery.
“These exquisite depictions are wrought with dazzling skill and technical brilliance – as vivid likenesses of people,their surroundings and often radiant costumes.
“However formal the pose or setting,here are people brought to life with utter conviction”.
xhibits have been assembled from several private collections as well as public institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Arts,New York,the Museum of Fine Arts,Boston,the San Diego Museum of Art,the V&A,Musee Guimet,the David Collection,Copenhagen,the British Library,the British Museum and the Bodleian Library,Oxford.
