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Head and shoulders portrait of an Indian lady

Shiva Lal

1850

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Patna School of Painting Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Head and shoulders portrait of an Indian lady is a 1850 paint by Shiva Lal, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Shiva Lal
When & what style?: 1850 · Patna School of Painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a woman with dark hair and a calm expression. She wears heavy gold jewelry—big earrings, a necklace, and bracelets—and a white dress with colorful embroidery along the edges. Behind her, a fan with a carved handle is open, and the background looks like a soft sky with a hint of water. The bright colors and loose brushstrokes suggest the artist was focusing on light and detail. This style was common in the mid-1800s. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

A head-and-shoulders portrait of an Indian woman by Shiva Lal from 1850 shows her wearing a sari with blue, green and gold stripes and large earrings, set against a background that includes part of a column, a wall section, a tassel and sky. The oval watercolour is framed by a dark red and gold-flecked green border.

Read the full account in the museum source.