A Common Indian Night Jar (Caprimulgu asiaticus)

India, Eighteenth Century

Background InformationBritish patrons hired Indians to

paint for themProminent patrons included

◦Lord Impey, Chief Justice of the High Court from 1777-85

◦Marquess Wellesley, governor-general from 1798-1805

Background InformationPainters were trained at a

Company School (kampani kalam)Specifically “Lucknow” School

(Adwadh region of Northern India)Each region of India had its own

distinct artistic sylesOther major centers included

Calcutta, Patna and Agra

Background InformationThese paintings were similar to Chinese

porcelain produced for exportMostly about nature- flowers, trees,

birds, fruits, animals, people, architecture and landscapes

Many commissions were made by the British East India Company

Employees wanted to bring back images of exotic finds as gifts or documentation

ArtistUnknown Indian painter - not thought

important enough by EuropeansCommissioned by French collector,

Claude MartinFrench military officer who became a

Major General in the B.E.I C.Born 1735 died 1800Moved to Lucknow, India in the 1770sIncluded this painting in an album of

art by local artists

SubjectA fairly common Indian bird;

member of the nightjar family Trees and shrubs in the

background

SubjectFound in Lucknow, Adwadh

region, India -not found in Europe Claimed by the British in 1856Strong Mughal influence on the

areaRich agricultural zone

Artistic AnalysisMixture of traditional Indian

miniature paintings and European taste

Artists had previously worked for the Mughal court and the painting reflects Mughal influence

Great attention to detail; seen in feathers

Artistic AnalysisProfile of bird shownBird is brown, black and grayCasts a dark shadowBackground much to small - scale

not realistic, bird in extreme foreground

Background very dull colored

Artistic AnalysisWatercolor on paper instead of

traditional gaucheOriginal was notebook paper

sized (H 8.628 in x W 11.125 in)Can be found in the Metropolitan

Museum of Art

FunctionThis type of painting is the 19th

century version of a photographReplaced by photographs in

1840sSouvenirsInexpensive

FunctionAt time of production were valued

as documentation not beautyShowed scientific view of needing

to collect all information about flora and fauna

Also the colonial need to assert control over colonies by possessing images of them

Today recognized for skill and aesthetic appeal