Question

For what purpose did the British Colonial officers commissioned local artists to paint scenes around them?

• A. To support local artist
• B. For documentation
• C. To exhibit the work
• D. For creating an art school

Hint:

Think of Company School paintings as the "photographs" of their time. The British wanted a visual record of India to understand it and to show to people back home, so the emphasis was on accuracy and documentation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the primary motivation behind the British patronage of local Indian artists, which led to the development of a style known as the Company School of painting.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
British Colonial officers, traders, and residents in India were fascinated by the country's unique flora, fauna, people, festivals, architecture, and landscapes. Before the invention of photography, painting was the primary medium for creating visual records. They commissioned local artists, who were trained in miniature painting traditions, to create detailed and realistic depictions of their surroundings. These paintings served as a visual diary or a factual record, similar to how photographs are used today. This focus on creating a visual record for informational and documentary purposes was the main driver for this type of patronage. The other options are less accurate: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Supporting local artists: While it did provide them with employment, it was a consequence of the demand, not the primary goal.} \\ \bullet & \text{Exhibiting the work: The paintings were generally for personal albums, scientific records, or to be sent back home, not primarily for formal public exhibitions.} \\ \bullet & \text{Creating an art school: The establishment of formal art schools by the British came later and had a different agenda, which was to teach Western academic art styles.} \\ \end{array}\]

Step 3: Final Answer:
The principal reason British officers commissioned local artists was for the documentation of the life and environment around them.