Funeral Procession, Artist unknown, Probably Late 18th century, Oil on Canvas, 137x206 cms.

According to the 1931 catalogue, the painting represents a typical funeral procession in Northern China under the Qing dynasty. The foreground on the left shows the house of the person who has died. The women of the house stand in front, in an expression of sadness. From the scale and scope of the painting, it could be the funeral of a rich or a noble man. With receding mountains and trees represented at calculated points, this painting displays melancholy. The deceased person is being taken in a decorated blue coffin with mourners painted in white garbs behind it. The heads of these mourners are bent forward showing solidarity and carrying wands significant to their offices. In a rhythmic movement, other persons are seen preceding the coffin, holding banners of various types to honour the soul. Dressed in traditional Chinese attire, all the forms represent a subtle charm in their colour scheme which is further realised by an overall subdued palette. Towards the right is seen an empty sedan chair with a tablet mentioning the name of the deceased. Several objects such as paper figures, articles representing a mountain of gold and mountain of silver are being carried by the people in this funeral procession.

Portfolio Name: Select Paintings of Rashtrapati Bhavan
Source: Lalit Kala Akademi