Who painted Benares (varanasi)?

Benares (varanasi) was painted by William Carpenter in 1856.

Where can I see Benares (varanasi)?

Benares (varanasi) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Benares (varanasi)?

Benares (varanasi) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Benares (varanasi)

William Carpenter , 1856

Benares (varanasi) is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist William Carpenter. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Benares (Varanasi) is a painting by William Carpenter, an artist who traveled extensively throughout India during the mid-19th century. The work depicts a scene along the River Ganges.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows the 'ghats' or bathing places below Aurangzeb's mosque in Benares (now Varanasi), capturing pilgrims engaged in bathing and prayer. It reflects Carpenter's interest in the daily lives of local inhabitants and their cultural practices.

History & Provenance

William Carpenter, son of portrait painter Margaret Sarah Carpenter, traveled to India in 1850 and spent several years painting portraits and landscapes. He returned to England in 1856, later lived in Boston, and eventually settled back in London, where he died in 1899.

Technique & Style

Carpenter's Indian pictures, including Benares (Varanasi), demonstrate a particular attention to detail in depicting costume, agriculture, and daily life, suggesting a documentary style influenced by his observational travels.

Artist & collection

Artist

William Carpenter

William Carpenter (1818–1899) was an English watercolour artist. He travelled for six or seven years in the 1850s painting scenes of India, its people and its life. The Victoria and Albert Museum bought over 280 of his…