Emily Eden's Portraits of India Exhibition Opens in Delhi

Nearly two centuries after dismissing Delhi as having “nothing to see,” the art of Emily Eden, an early Victorian aristocrat and artist, has returned to the city in a rare exhibition. Titled Princes & People of India: Portraits by Emily Eden, the showcase features close to 30 hand-coloured lithographs and archival material from the Eden Family, now part of the DAG collection. The exhibition is being held at DAG on Janpath and will run until August 1.

A Unique Perspective on 19th-Century India
Emily Eden, a sister of George Eden, the Governor-General of India from 1836 to 1842, travelled extensively across North India, documenting her journey through art and letters. Her portraits captured Indian royalty, soldiers, and commoners in vivid detail, offering a rare glimpse into the socio-political landscape of the time. Among her most notable works are depictions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, the Raja of Patiala on a state elephant, and a young student from Calcutta’s Hindu College, now Presidency University.

Unlike many British artists of her era, who focused on landscapes, Eden made people her primary subjects. This approach set her apart, as she had unique access to Indian royalty and nobility—a privilege few women of her time enjoyed. Art historian Mary Ann Prior, who curated the exhibition, noted that Eden’s portraits convey both the grandeur and humanity of her subjects, such as the frailty yet authority of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in his later years.

Delhi: A City Overlooked
Despite her wide travels, Eden largely ignored Delhi, spending only a week in the city and describing it as a “ghost town.” In a letter to her nephew, she remarked that the city offered little more than “gigantic ruins of mosques and palaces.” This perspective contrasts sharply with her detailed portrayals of other regions, such as Punjab and Calcutta, which she found rich in inspiration.

One of her sketches, a portrait of Raja Hindu Rao, hints at a possible connection to Delhi, as the nobleman had settled there after retirement. However, Eden did not explicitly identify the location, and her overall indifference to the city remains a notable aspect of her journey.

Why It Matters
Emily Eden’s work provides a rare, personal lens on 19th-century India, capturing the complexities of its people and politics during a pivotal era of British colonial rule. Her art stands out not only for its historical value but also for its focus on individuals rather than the “picturesque” landscapes that dominated colonial art. The ongoing exhibition in Delhi offers a chance to revisit her legacy and the nuanced stories she documented—stories that continue to resonate nearly 200 years later.

Source: Indian Express