Mohhamad Ali Khan- Nawab of Arcot (Carnatic), 1774, George Willison, Oil on Canvas, 240.5x148 cms.

George Willison, born in 1741 went to Rome to study arts after a stint at the Edinburgh Society for encouragement of Arts and Sciences. He was acclaimed in Scotland as a portrait painter. During his creative stint in India, the offi cials of the East India Company as well as Indian royalty, especially the Nawab of Arcot were his major subjects. George Willison incorporates tender strokes to blend the contours of the form with the background. Draped in a long Jama, Nawab Muhammad Ali’s appearance is distinguished with pearl and gold jewels around the neck. He wears a high conical pagdi with a feathered Kalgi on top. A bulky drape falls side ways in this composition. With an almost squarish face, neat beard and down turned moustache in shades of grey, his round eyes seems to be in communion with the observer. This painting was done on twilled canvas by Willison. Muhammad Ali, the second son of Nawab Anwar-ud-Din Khan was appointed as the Nawab of Carnatic in 1744. The Nawab poses in a verandah against a huge pilaster with circular shaft and a square bottom. The background with a semicircular archway extends itself towards the landscape. His right hand holds a sash while the left hand holds the hilt of his sword.

Portfolio Name: Company Paintings in Rashtrapati Bhawan
Source: Lalit Kala Akademi