Portrait of a Sri Lankan Tamil

1806–1807

Not on view

This sensitive portrait of an unidentified Sri Lankan man of Tamil descent is a rare surviving sketch from the short-lived career of Samuel Daniell (1775–1811) younger brother of William Daniell (1769–1837) and nephew of Thomas Daniell (1749–1840), renowned illustrators of Indian landscapes and monuments in the late 18th century. The diminutive scale of this drawing suggests that it is a page from a sketchbook, and its freshness of execution and the artist’s empathy for his subject all point to this being a study from life. It reveals an artist at ease with his subject, creating a portrait that conveys the dignity and self-esteem to the anonymous sitter, whose proud demeanor is immediately apparent.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Portrait of a Sri Lankan Tamil
Artist: Samuel Daniell (British, 1775–1811)
Date: 1806–1807
Culture: Sri Lanka
Medium: Watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions: Sheet: 5 7/8 × 6 3/4 in. (14.9 × 17.1 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2021
Object Number: 2021.383
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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