Tate acquires 50 historic Anglo-Indian artworks

The Tate has received a donation of 50 artworks from the collection of British academic and Indian art expert Charles Greig. The collection, assembled over four decades, consists of oil paintings, watercolors, and miniatures created during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The works explore the complex historical and cultural relationships between Britain and the Indian subcontinent during the era of the British East India Company. The collection features a mix of Indian artists, such as Sita Ram and Ghulam Ali Khan, and European artists who worked in India, including Johan Zoffany, Rudolf Swoboda, William Hodges, and the Daniell brothers.

Notable pieces include Johan Zoffany’s ‘Portrait of Prince Jawan Bakht’ (1784) and Rudolf Swoboda’s ‘Sepoy in HH Maharaja Srinagar’s Indian Regiment, 23 Years Old’ (1886). Greig described the donation as an “entirely philanthropic act,” noting that he did not utilize tax incentives for the gift.