A lady of William Fullarton's household seated on European chair, smoking a 'huqqa'

Murshidabad, India

ca. 1760 - ca. 1764

Opaque watercolour on paper

Style of Dip Chand, Murshidabad/ c.1760-3

These are two of a series of studies of members of his household and other native characters made for William Fullarton at Patna, probably by Dip Chand. The same sparse setting, with a single figure on a European chair on an empty terrace, is common to many of them. It is noteworthy that Fullarton's household should be shown sitting on chairs when he himself was evidently used to sitting on carpets in native fashion. The male subject, who is shown with a 'lota' and common 'huqqa' and clasping a sword, may be a 'chowkidar' or watchman. The imperious lady, squatting on her chair as she smokes a 'bidri'-ware 'huqqa', could conceivably be Fullarton's 'bibi' or mistress.

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