Add Or 1950-1956

Add.Or.1950-1956

7 drawings depicting trades and castes of South India.

By a Tanjore artist, c.1790.

Pen-and-ink and wash; with the exception of 1950, which measures 15.5 by 10 ins,

all 10 by 7.5 ins.

Purchased 15 December 1961.

Note: With the exception of 1950 the figures are shown in pairs, a man and his wife, against a plain background. A slight indication of ground is given at their feet. These drawings which formerly, belonged to Sir Henry Russell (2nd Baronet, 1763-1852) of Swallowfield Park, Berkshire, were possibly acquired by him while he was in India from 1798 to 1820. On reaching the Library they were in a small portfolio together with no.3 and a note: ‘Figures drawn by all Indian. 7. Last purchase,’ the handwriting and the phrase, ‘Last purchase,’ being repeated on a folder of drawings by Thomas and William Daniell acquired by the Library from the same source. It seems possible, therefore, that these pictures had been acquired by the Daniells in Tanjore or Madras in 1792 and had come to Sir Henry Russell along with the many Daniell drawings which he purchased after Thomas Daniell’s death in 1840. Four of the present drawings are uncoloured versions of Add.Or.191, 199, 200, and 206, and would appear to have been made at about the same time as this group. The pen-and-ink technique and English paper would suggest that these drawings were specially made for the purchaser and were not part of a stock set.