Who painted Picnic party, Mashobra?

Picnic party, Mashobra was painted by Raja Deen Dayal in 1887.

Where can I see Picnic party, Mashobra?

Picnic party, Mashobra is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Picnic party, Mashobra?

Picnic party, Mashobra is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Picnic party, Mashobra

Raja Deen Dayal , 1887

Picnic party, Mashobra is a photography by the Impressionist artist Raja Deen Dayal. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The photograph captures a genteel picnic held in 1887 on the forested grounds of Federico Peliti’s country estate near Shimla.

About this work

This photo shows a fancy picnic in India, 1887. A big group sits under trees. Some play badminton. A woman swings. A man on a horse watches.

It was shot for Federico Peliti, a hotel owner who threw big parties. His wife Judith is on the swing. Deen Dayal used a camera—then a new tool—to show this moment.

See this in person at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Overview

The photograph captures a genteel picnic held in 1887 on the forested grounds of Federico Peliti’s country estate near Shimla. A sizable gathering is arranged beneath trees, with participants engaged in leisure activities such as badminton, a swing, and a horse‑riding observer. The image records the opulent social atmosphere of colonial hill‑station entertainments.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the scene, Peliti is depicted astride a horse while his wife, Judith, occupies a swinging seat, a pastime with deep roots in both European and Indian recreational traditions. The inclusion of badminton, a sport introduced to India from England in the early 1870s, underscores the blending of colonial and local leisure practices.

Technique & Style

The picture was produced using the photographic methods available in the late nineteenth century, likely by the Indian photographer Lala Deen Dayal, who shared membership in the Photographic Society of Bombay with Peliti. The composition balances a wide, natural setting with detailed figures, illustrating the era’s emerging capacity to document social events with clarity and immediacy.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by Federico Peliti, an Italian restaurateur and hotelier active in the British Raj, the photograph served to memorialise one of his many elaborate gatherings. The work later entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is presently displayed as part of the museum’s holdings on colonial-era photography.