Album of 'Company' paintings of occupations and festivals, Southern India

The style of production and subject-matter of 'Company' albums were adapted to European taste and commonly depicted flora and fauna, local communities, monuments, festivals, deities and craft industries. This set includes many figures thought to be familiar to European travellers and residents in so...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections CWML MSS/500 Open

Order number: CWML MSS 500
Date(s) of creation: c. 1830s-1840s
Level: Item
Format: Archive           

collection SOAS Archive
id CWML_MSS.500
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
scb_order_with CWML MSS 500
callnumber CWML MSS/500
callnumber_txt CWML MSS/500
callnumber-sort CWML MSS/500
prefix_number 500
title Album of 'Company' paintings of occupations and festivals, Southern India
scb_date_creation c. 1830s-1840s
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 1 vol (46 colour plates)
format Archive
scb_admin_history William Thompson was born on 23 May 1811. He was appointed to Bellary with the London Missionary Society in 1836, arriving at Madras on 29 Dec 1836, and Bellary on 1 Feb 1837. He married Jessie Wardlaw in 1840. In Aug 1844, he proceeded to Madras to superintend the preparation of the new Kanarese type.After the death of his wife on 23 Feb 1849, he returned to England. Having accepted the Pastorate at Union Chapel, Cape Town, his connection with the Society ceased, but he was appointed Agent for the South African Missions of the Society. He arrived in Cape Town on 24 June 1850. He went on to become the General Treasurer for the South African missions, and a Commissioner for the preparation and management of the "Missionary Institutions' Act" of the Cape legislature. He ceased to act as Agent of the Society in March 1888. He died at Cape Town on 8 May 1889. His son, Ralph Wardlaw Thompson, became Foreign Secretary of the Society in 1881.
scb_custodial_history The album was formerly owned by Rev William Thompson.
description The style of production and subject-matter of 'Company' albums were adapted to European taste and commonly depicted flora and fauna, local communities, monuments, festivals, deities and craft industries. This set includes many figures thought to be familiar to European travellers and residents in southern India: a bird-seller, ironsmith, stonecutter, coppersmith, basket-maker, and religious mendicant. There are also images of marriage and funeral ceremonies, and a series of Hindu, Muslim and Catholic festivals and processions. There are also scenes showing buildings in Pondicherry. Watercolour on paper, H22 x W35cm. English captions. Additional reading: 'Painting Processions: The Social and Religious Landscape of Southern India in a 'Company' Album', by Crispin Branfoot (SOAS), in Orientations: The Magazine for Collectors and Connoisseurs of Asian Art, Volume 38, Number 8, November/December 2007
scb_access_status Open
language English
language_search English
hierarchy_top_id_raw CWML MSS
hierarchy_sequence CWML_MSS.00500

Similar items