A minutre painting of middel-aged King Serfoji II (1777-1832)
He was installed as ruler of Thanjavur in 1798 by the British. Right from the very beginning of the Danish era in Tranquebar in the 1620s royal portraits were recognised as being useful instruments in the political and social negotiations with allies. The interest in naturalistic portraiture developed at the court of Thanjavur, especially during the reign of Serfoji II. The presence of both European artists and Indian artists trained in European techniques made the growth of new forms of portraiture possible especially in the late eighteenth century. This is clearly seen in the hybrid style of miniature paintings known as company paintings. In addition to his deep insight into Indian knowledge systems Serfoji II also showed an extensive interest in European art and science along with his deep insight in Indian knowledge systems. During his reign royal paintings were displayed in his Thanjavur palace, for instance in the Durbar Halls. They were also used as gifts in the courtly culture of gift exchange, in which the Europeans also participated in. In the early part of the nineteenth century this minuture painting entered the Ethnographical Collection of the Royal Art Museum in Copenhagen, now part of the National Museum of Denmark. Miniature painting on mica, c. 10 cm high and 6 cm wide, artist unknown, before 1830.
