British Artists in India.
With the increasing British involvement in Indian affairs in the 18th century, several civil and military officers of the East India Company started taking an interest in the scientific investigation of local fauna, particularly birds. Most of them were amateur birdwatchers who spent their leisure moments observing birds.
This satisfying hobby soon became a passion resulting in scholarly papers and books with coloured plates, thus laying the scientific foundation of Indian ornithology. A number of these officers were gifted with drawing skills and made charming sketches of Indian birds. Most of the drawings were, however, originally for engraving or lithography by eminent artists in London.
Some of the artists mentioned in the book are:
- James Forbes: an amateur artist and keen naturalist who spent eighteen years in India from 1766 to 1784;
- Brian Houghton Hodgson: encouraged Indian and Nepalese artists to draw birds scientifically;
- John Gould: the genius behind the monumental work 'The Birds Of Asia';
- T C Jerdon: who formalised the study of natural history in India.
Contains 60 beautifully reproduced plates and lithographs, ideally designed for framing; and has a detailed introduction that covers the history of bird painting and lithography in India.
