In paintings: How foreign artists saw Benaras in the 19th and early 20th centuries

A new exhibition in Mumbai views of the ancient city of Benares (now Varanasi) as depicted by foreign artists in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Over the years, the city, with its rich history, bustling riverside ghats and ritualistic fervour had become a part of most travelling artists’ itineraries, serving as an inspiration to many who tried to capture its essence.

By the end of the eighteenth century, images of Benares had caught the attention of people back in the British metropole, with landscape painter William Hodges publishing picturesque views of the city among a set of views of India. The famous Thomas Daniell and his nephew William Daniell, who arrived in India a few years later, also included Benares landscapes in their visual documentation of the subcontinent.

The popularity and commercial success of their works among Western audiences inspired other artists to explore India. British servicemen who were working in India also added to the lure by contributing to this knowledge production.

The epigraphist and numismatist James Prinsep, who worked in Benares for ten years, published an impressive series of drawings titled Benares Illustrated, which not only contained views of the city but also a detailed visual map of Benares along with descriptive notes.

While for...

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