A new exhibition in Delhi showcasing rare artworks by European artists gives insights into how the British ruled the country.

Called Destination India: Foreign Artists in India, 1857-1947, the show focuses on artists who travelled to colonial India from around the world.

The representation of India through the European and British artists has “long been a subject of intrigue and exploration”, writes Indian MP and author Shashi Tharoor, in an introduction to the show.

“The fascination with India’s unique landscapes, grand monuments, vibrant traditions and rich history has drawn many to its shores, seeking to capture the essence of this multifaceted nation.”

Mr Tharoor notes that the show is “refreshing and essential” as it explores the less-explored, yet a compelling period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rather than just the early pioneers.

The exhibition showcases artworks, including from British artist William Carpenter, that give glimpses into not only the royal courts, but also daily life in the Empire.

Carpenter usually did watercolour, but this 1857 artwork, pictured above, is wood engraving on paper that depicts the busy back streets of Delhi's Jama Masjid (mosque).

Many interesting artists visited India from England and other European countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were mainly conventional artists working in oil and watercolour and various print media.

“They were attracted to the people, and not just to the grandees, but to ordinary people in the streets. If there was still an element of the picturesque, it was a more intimate and animated version of that aesthetic,” says Ashish Anand, managing director of DAG, a leading art firm which has put........

© BBC