Artwork

Depictions of a India pitta and Brown-backed Indian robin of Northern India

Depictions of a India pitta and Brown-backed Indian robin 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. This 1820 watercolor painting depicts two bird species native to Northern India: the Indian pitta and the Brown-backed Indian robin.

About this work

Overview

This 1820 watercolor painting depicts two bird species native to Northern India: the Indian pitta and the Brown-backed Indian robin. The work is characterized by simple, loose brushstrokes and muted colors on aged, slightly torn paper.

Subject & Meaning

The subjects are two indigenous Northern Indian bird species. The Indian pitta is portrayed with a short tail, brown and gray feathers, and a faint red patch under its beak, while specific details of the Brown-backed Indian robin are not visually highlighted in the provided description.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolor, the painting features quick, loose lines and muted color palette, suggesting a possibly observational or sketch-like approach by the artist.

History & Provenance

Acquired by the collection in 1929, the painting was donated by Robert Scott Greenshields, a former Indian Civil Service officer who served in Bengal and Assam from 1879 to 1910.

Context

Created in 1820, the work reflects the era's interest in natural history documentation, particularly of Indian fauna during the British colonial period.