The painting is currently at a private collection but was up for auction at Saffron Art in December 2023
Pestonjee Bomanjee was a prolific Indian painter of Parsi descent. Bomanjee initially wished to become a sculptor and trained under John Lockwood Kipling for the same purpose and studied at J.J. School of Arts in Bombay under John Griffiths and in 1872, he was appointed as a draughtsman by Griffiths and was sent to study and copy the painting of Ajanta in 1890 and in 1894 he became the very first Indian teacher at J.J. School of Arts. In 1877 he worked as an an apprentice under Valentine Cameron Prinseps which drew him towards creating portraits. Bomanjee generally drew portraits, landscapes and scenes from people's daily lives with oil on canvas and sometimes pastel.
"Portrait of a Parsee Gentleman" is a perfect example of his focus and precised work. The painting depicts a Parsee man wearing a traditional headgear with a crisp white shirt underneath a black coat with spectaclesthat sit perfectly on his nose. Pestonjee has very precisely painted the mustache, sideburns and hair and eyebrows of the man which make it look a lot like a photograph and less like a handmade portrait.
Bomanjee has chosen pastels on paper as the medium for this painting. He has chosen colours like black, white and hint of cream and grey for this painting. The overall portrait is not made with very bright colours but that doesn't mean the portrait feels depressing, it is rarther calming even with a muted palette. The exact creation date of the painting isn't mentioned anywhere but it's said to be painted around late 19th or early 20th century.
Bomanjee's style of art is very distinct from others and it clearly shows in his paintings. He worked with great precision and focus which made his portraits look less like creations of one's owm hands and more like a photograph taken by a camera for the way he balanced light, colours and painted the people exactly they looked like. This painting is an excellent example of his precision and focus.
Pestonjee Bomanjee’s Portrait of a Parsee Gentleman demonstrates the artist’s remarkable command over portraiture and his academic training. The composition is simple and restrained, concentrating entirely on the sitter’s face and personality rather than elaborate surroundings. The muted palette of blacks, browns, creams, and soft greys creates a dignified and calm atmosphere. Bomanjee carefully renders the man’s traditional Parsi headgear, spectacles, moustache, sideburns, and facial features, giving the portrait an almost photographic precision. Yet the work is not merely a realistic likeness; the sitter’s composed expression and direct, thoughtful gaze suggest individuality and social dignity. The subtle modelling of light across the face adds depth without excessive dramatic contrast. The uncluttered background further strengthens the psychological presence of the figure. Overall, the painting is an excellent example of Bomanjee’s ability to combine academic realism with sensitivity, transforming an ordinary portrait into a refined study of identity and character.
