Drawn from courtly India: the Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection

Abstract

This publication presents the first in-depth survey of the Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian drawings, which was recently acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This exceptional collection, which has never previously been published, consists of 65 works on paper created between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Harris-Truelove Collection is uniquely and tightly focused on works from the royal courts of North India, and the majority of these drawings served as preparatory material for the opaque watercolor illustrations that have been widely collected and studied. This catalogue celebrates the assured line of the Indian draftsman and recognizes these drawings as accomplished works of art in their own right. The text details the process and technique involved in their production, and explores what can be revealed by the artist's hand. This in-depth look at drawings also contextualizes the role of art production in court culture, and reveals the intricacies of artistic workshop practice.