Add Or 3846

A prince at a well.

Hyderabad, c.1780.

Presented by Michael Archer, December 1975.

Inscribed on the reverse by Col. Gayer-Anderson: to ‘my valued Friend ‘W.G.’ in recognition of his many kindnesses and of his acumen in the ‘Bargain Basement’ from T.G.G.- A. 7.12.53’; collection number ‘GA P.261’ cancelled by Gayer-Anderson with his initials and the word ‘withdrawn’; old number ‘No.23’, and the Archer Collection number ‘A-49’.

Gouache with gold; on an album page with red border ruled in gold and yellow.

203 by 158 mm; page 265 by 199 mm.

A prince on horseback receives water from one of five girls who draw water at a well beneath a tree. There is an extensive green field behind, with deer resting by a pool in the distance. Perhaps an illustration to the story of Shahid and Wafa, cf. J.10, 6.

Note: Between 1952 and his death in June 1960, Col. T.G. Gayer-Anderson, C.M.G., D.S.O., twin brother of Maj. R.G. Gayer-Anderson Pasha, was a devoted supporter of the Indian Section, Victoria and Albert Museum, to which he gave his collection of over 300 Indian drawings, mostly Rajasthani. His close friendship with W.G. Archer, implied by his abbreviations ‘W.G.’ and ‘T.G.’ in the above inscription, encouraged him to collect the most significant holding of Kotah paintings outside India. Gayer-Anderson had been especially attracted to Kotah drawings during his service in India between 1926 and 1930, and following the first identification of the Kotah school by Archer in 1952, he subsequently acquired additional examples on the London market. His mention above of the ‘bargain basement’ is in reference to a parcel of Hyderabad pictures at Walker’s Galleries, New Bond Street, to which Archer had drawn his attention in December 1953. The group had been acquired by Sir Henry Russell while stationed at Hyderabad (1798-1820), ‘see also’ Add.Or.1912-1947 and 3849. A group of these Hyderabad drawings is now in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; their 91.1422, a group of ladies bathing, is clearly from the same studio and set as Add.Or.3846.