Riverside

The painting depicts an untitled landscape by Pestonji Bomanji, currently housed at the Delhi Art Gallery. Born to a parsi family in Bombay, Bomanji became one of the earliest Indian artists who was associated with the Bombay School and was particularly renowned for his oil portraits. His artistic talent and affinity for creative expression made it possible for him to enroll in the Sir J. J. School of Art at the remarkably young age of thirteen. There he studied under John Griffiths (the principal of the J. J. School of Art) who recognized his ability and involved him in important projects. One of the most significant projects assigned to Bomanji was the copying of the Ajanta cave paintings. He was appointed as a draughtsman by Griffith but due to his efficiency and expertise he came to head the project in 1880. This experience of Bomanji connected him with the Ajanta region and landscapes of western India which he often explored in his famous oil paintings. Another significant event that influenced his portraiture was his period of training with Valentine Princep, a British artist who visited India. The central characteristic of Bomanji's work is academic realism. He attempted to represent people and objects as they appeared in reality. His paintings are often naturalistic with detailed observations of nature and human subjects. The above portrait shows a large, expansive landscape of dense vegetation, rocks and uneven ground. A small group of human figures appears toward the right-hand side of the painting. Beyond there is a blue body of water, followed by a range of mountains. Bomanji had mastered the oil paintings and a remarkable feature in his paintings is the use of light and shadow. The use of light and shadow in the painting is also applauded as the foreground is relatively dark while in contrast, the sky is pale blue. The distant mountains are gradually in lighter blue and grey tones. The landscape also represents the relationship between humans and nature. The human figures in the landscape appear minute against the large backdrop. Thus, this painting also presents nature as a vast, immersive and powerful force. The painting reflects the academic-naturalist approach associated with the Bombay School of Art.