Who painted One of five drawings of Sikh heroes?

One of five drawings of Sikh heroes was painted by Unknown in 1870.

Where can I see One of five drawings of Sikh heroes?

One of five drawings of Sikh heroes is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is One of five drawings of Sikh heroes?

One of five drawings of Sikh heroes is associated with Patna School of Painting.

Artwork

One of five drawings of Sikh heroes

Unknown , 1870

One of five drawings of Sikh heroes is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This work is a mid‑nineteenth‑century drawing that portrays five bearded men in turbans, arranged side by side.

About this work

Overview

This work is a mid‑nineteenth‑century drawing that portrays five bearded men in turbans, arranged side by side. Their garments are rendered in simple, flowing folds, giving the figures a calm, composed presence despite the limited detail of their facial expressions. The piece forms part of a larger compilation of visual material assembled in the late 1800s.

Subject & Meaning

The five figures are identified as Sikh heroes, a theme that reflects a colonial interest in regional exemplars of bravery and moral virtue. By presenting them in a uniform, dignified stance, the drawing emphasizes collective identity and valor, though the lack of individual facial clarity suggests an emphasis on archetype over personal narrative.

Technique & Style

Executed in pen and ink on paper, the drawing employs linear shading to suggest the texture of turbans and the drape of robes. The composition is straightforward, with each figure occupying an equal portion of the picture plane, and the use of minimal background focuses attention on the subjects themselves.

History & Provenance

The image belongs to an album compiled by J. Lockwood Kipling between 1865 and 1893, which gathered 196 items—primarily lithographs and drawings sold in bazaars and fairs across Upper India and Bengal. In 1917 the collection was bequeathed to the museum by Rudyard Kipling, linking the work to the Kipling family’s patronage of Indian art.

Context

During the period of its creation, British officials and merchants frequently collected visual representations of Indian peoples for both commercial and documentary purposes. The album’s focus on Sikh figures aligns with contemporary colonial narratives that highlighted martial communities as exemplars of loyalty and strength within the empire.