A maize plant

ca. 1825 · Drawing · 50 × 67.5 cm

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Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 7 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum's own collection data

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About the work

The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert, later Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert, first Baronet, GCB, commissioned this one. He went to India with the 15th Native Infantry in 1801. At the time this painting was made, he was Commandant of the Ramgarh Battalion based at Hazaribagh (Bihar) from 1822 to 1828. Gilbert belonged to a circle that was intensely interested in painting. Sir Charles D'Oyly, the skilled amateur artist and later patron of Indian artists in Patna, was married to his sister-in-law.

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Gilbert and his wife owned a number of standard sets of Company paintings. They also made a collection documenting their life in Hazaribagh and Sambhalpur, of which this is an example. The artist was perhaps of Murshidabad ancestry. Gilbert may have paid him a private retainer fee. However, it is more likely that he was a survey draughtsman in Company employment. He probably accompanied Gilbert officially on his various assignments and executed private commissions from time to time.

Victoria and Albert Museum