Artwork
A groom with a horse and carriage
A groom with a horse and carriage is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Shaykh Muhammad Amir of Karraya. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. A groom stands beside a horse hitched to a carriage in this painting, created around 1845 for a British couple residing in Calcutta.
About this work
These were called Company paintings—Indian artists made them for European buyers.
You see a groom standing beside a horse hitched to a fancy carriage. He wears a long coat and a turban. The horse looks calm. The painting shows a bright, sunny day.
This was made for a British couple in Calcutta around 1845. It’s part of a set showing their home, servants, and pets. These were called Company paintings—Indian artists made them for European buyers.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more Company art.
Overview
A groom stands beside a horse hitched to a carriage in this painting, created around 1845 for a British couple residing in Calcutta.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a groom in traditional attire alongside a calm horse attached to an ornate carriage, suggesting a serene, sunlit day. The work is part of a series showcasing the couple's home, servants, and pets.
Technique & Style
This painting exemplifies the Company painting style, characterized by Indian artists working for European patrons. Shaikh Muhammad Amir, the artist, was known for his depictions of British suburban life in Calcutta.
History & Provenance
Shaikh Muhammad Amir, who worked in Calcutta's Karraya suburb, specialized in capturing the domestic lives of British residents. His work reflects the growing demand for such art as the British moved to newer suburbs like Chowringhee and Garden Reach from the 1780s onwards.
Artist & collection
Artist
Shaykh Muhammad Amir of Karraya
Egyptian folk painter Shaykh Muhammad Amir of Karraya left a small album of lively street scenes around Cairo in the mid-1800s.
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