A branch of a mango tree ('Mangifera Indica') bearing unripe fruits
1780
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1780
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a single mango branch loaded with green fruits. The leaves and fruit are sharp with detail, but the colors stay soft and natural. A pale blue sky peeks through behind the leaves, adding calm. It’s one of over 300 small paintings British officials asked Indian artists to make in the late 1700s. Called Company paintings, these works mixed Indian skill with European tastes. If you like this quiet study, try Bhawani Das.
