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Depictions of a (unfinished drawing) and a Rock bush-quail of Northern India

Unknown

1820

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Patna School of Painting Romanticism Early 19th Century Animal

Dominant colour

Depictions of a (unfinished drawing) and a Rock bush-quail of Northern India is a 1820 paint by Unknown, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1820 · Patna School of Painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows a single bird with striped brown and white feathers, perched on a patch of green plants. Its head is a mix of warm browns and reds, and the background is a plain, faded beige. The bird looks alert, facing left, with a few small purple berries nearby. The artist left the top and edges of the paper bare, almost like they ran out of time or interest. The brushstrokes are simple and quick, focusing on getting the bird right rather than fancy details. If you like this sketchy style, look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and shadow for drama.

The story of this work

Overview

Two drawings from 1820 depict an unfinished sketch alongside a Rock bush-quail native to northern India, with the work later donated to a collection in 1929 by Robert Scott Greenshields.

Read the full account in the museum source.