Who painted A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife?

A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife was painted by Unknown in 1790.

Where can I see A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife?

A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife?

A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife is associated with Patna School of Painting.

Artwork

A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife

Unknown , 1790

A Maratha broadsword teacher and his wife is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This oil painting forms part of a series of sixteen works that document various Indian castes and occupations.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting forms part of a series of sixteen works that document various Indian castes and occupations. Executed with a uniform blue backdrop, it portrays a Maratha instructor of the broadsword and his spouse, each rendered in traditional attire.

Subject & Meaning

The male figure is identified as a teacher of the Maratha broadsword, a weapon associated with the Maratha warrior class. His wife stands beside him, suggesting a domestic partnership that reflects the social status of a martial instructor within the community.

Technique & Style

The composition relies on a flat, unadorned blue field that isolates the figures, emphasizing their clothing and posture. The man wears a white jama with red undergarments, a red turban and red footwear, while the woman is clad in a dark‑red tie‑and‑dye sari edged with blue, complemented by gold jewelry and a blue sash.

History & Provenance

The painting belongs to a larger group of works with similar blue backgrounds that were transferred from the India Museum to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1879. The series was created to illustrate the diversity of Indian social roles during the colonial period.

Context

Created during a time when British institutions collected visual records of Indian society, the work reflects 19th‑century ethnographic interests. The depiction of a martial instructor and his wife provides insight into the occupational hierarchy and gender roles within Maratha culture.