Bringing out beauty, power and humanity intrinsic to a magnificent art form

A significant exhibition courtesy Francesca Galloway in London celebrates the beauty, power and humanity intrinsic to miniature art form, serving as a record of a complex and rich history. Initially a director of Spink & Son, Francesca Galloway set up her own venture in 1992. She has been dealing in courtly Indian art and Islamic textiles traditions since 1974, having become renowned for handling the best Indian paintings and helping to create several major collections in this arena.

The James Ivory collection on view at the venue contains several interesting paintings which shed light on their evolution in the both the Mughal, Maratha and subsequent British era in the 18th and 19th centuries. It explores the rich, dynamic and powerful Indian miniature painting tradition in its majestic glory. According to Sandhya Jain-Pate, the associate vice president (Christie's), the market remains quite strong for these precious jewel-like images.

The expert in Indian & South East Asian art mentions in a recent column (Publication: India Today), “International bidding at auction encompasses collectors in India, the Middle East, Europe and the US. It reflects the breadth and depth of this beautiful field's appeal and the continuing relevance of this masterful art form in the present context. Both seasoned and new collectors alike are now rediscovering the rewards for investing their knowledge and passion in Indian miniature painting, where their devotion gets infinitely rewarded.”

Bringing out the nuances of the captivating collection, an essay by J. P. Losty reveals, “It contains an interesting group of portraits from the late 18th and the 19th centuries. From the middle of the 19th century, most styles of Indian painting outside of Rajasthan were increasingly affected by renewed European influence. Indian artists worked in a wide variety of styles and techniques during this period, all showing the influence of European art to different degrees. In fact, from the middle of the 18th century, most styles of Indian painting outside of Rajasthan were increasingly affected by renewed European influence.”