Who painted Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India?

Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India was painted by Unknown in 1820.

Where can I see Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India?

Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India?

Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India is associated with Patna School of Painting.

Artwork

Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India

Unknown , 1820

Depictions of a Hoopoe and a Goshawk of Northern India is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Two small watercolour studies on stained paper occupy opposite pages of a single album folio.

About this work

Overview

Two small watercolour studies on stained paper occupy opposite pages of a single album folio. One image portrays a hoopoe, the other a goshawk, both birds native to northern India. The compositions are rendered on a flat, purple ground that isolates the subjects, allowing their forms and plumage to dominate the visual field.

Subject & Meaning

The left-hand illustration captures a diminutive hoopoe, recognizable by its elongated, striped crest and modest size. Opposite it, a larger bird with speckled plumage and a hooked beak represents a goshawk. The pairing highlights contrasting avian types—one a distinctive passerine, the other a raptor—providing a comparative study of Indian birdlife.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the artist employs simple geometric shapes and a limited palette of bright hues to delineate feathers, claws and beak details. The stained paper lends a warm undertone, while the plain purple background eliminates extraneous context, emphasizing anatomical accuracy and the delicate texture of each bird's plumage.

History & Provenance

The folio entered the museum collection through a 1929 donation by Robert Scott Greenshields, a former officer of the Indian Civil Service. Greenshields’ contribution reflects the period’s practice of transferring personal colonial-era documents and artworks to public institutions for scholarly access.