Patna: Company School painters were skilled and resourceful artists who developed a distinctive visual language rather than merely imitating established styles. They adapted to changing demands while retaining their artistic roots, serving as a bridge between Mughal and Western painting traditions, said Rekha Verma, head of collections and exhibitions and deputy head of curatorial affairs at the Islamic Arts Museum, Malaysia.Verma was speaking at an online event organised by Planet Patna on Sunday afternoon. She highlighted the importance of Company School painting, describing it as a tradition that went beyond the conventions of Mughal art.The tradition flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, reaching its peak between 1850 and 1900 before gradually declining in the early 20th century with the loss of British patronage.Its emergence was closely linked to the arrival of European trading companies in India. Fascinated by the country’s culture, people and lifestyle, European patrons commissioned Indian artists to document what they saw.“Photography did not exist at the time and there were no modern means of documenting people’s lives, customs and landscapes. Europeans therefore commissioned local artists to capture the beauty and everyday life of India,” Verma said.Around 1769, nearly 60 painters from Britain arrived in India, introducing techniques such as oil painting, watercolours and prints. Indian artists, traditionally working on handmade paper in the miniature tradition, gradually incorporated the realistic approach favoured by European artists. This interaction gave rise to the distinctive Company School style, which flourished from the 1760s to the 1880s.Verma also spoke about the Impey Album, commissioned by Mary Impey, wife of Sir Elijah Impey. A prominent patron of Indian artists, Mary commissioned detailed paintings of birds, animals and plants from her private menagerie and garden. Sheikh Zainuddin, who moved from Patna to Kolkata, was among the artists associated with the album. His meticulously observed works reflected a naturalistic style distinct from conventional Mughal painting.Planet Patna, which organised the event, houses a collection of Company School paintings at Bal Manohar Jalan Museum.
