Francesco Renaldi (1755-1798) was an English-born portraitist of Italian descent who worked in India from 1786 to 1796. His refined oil paintings, including depictions of Mughal women, captured colonial-era elegance and cultural nuance. Renaldi’s work blends academic technique with rich South Asian detail, offering rare glimpses into 18th-century aristocracy.
Francesco Renaldi’s Portrait of a Mughal Woman (1787) is a striking oil painting created during his time in Calcutta. The woman, seated cross-legged, wears a sheer organza kameez adorned with intricate gold jewelry—rings, maang tikka, and nosering—painted with luminous impasto highlights. Her dark hair and serene gaze evoke quiet strength and elegance. Likely portraying a “bibi,” or Indian companion of a European man, the portrait reflects 18th-century cross-cultural encounters and gender norms. Renaldi’s composition, with its rich colors and triangular balance, emphasizes both dignity and intimacy, offering a rare glimpse into the life of an elite Indo-Muslim woman.
Francesco Renaldi (1755-1798) was an English-born portraitist of Italian descent who worked in India from 1786 to 1796. His refined oil paintings, including depictions of Mughal women, captured colonial-era elegance and cultural nuance. Renaldi’s work blends academic technique with rich South Asian detail, offering rare glimpses into 18th-century aristocracy.
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Francesco Renaldi’s Portrait of a Mughal Woman (1787) is a striking oil painting created during his time in Calcutta. The woman, seated cross-legged, wears a sheer organza kameez adorned with intricate gold jewelry—rings, maang tikka, and nosering—painted with luminous impasto highlights. Her dark hair and serene gaze evoke quiet strength and elegance. Likely portraying a “bibi,” or Indian companion of a European man, the portrait reflects 18th-century cross-cultural encounters and gender norms. Renaldi’s composition, with its rich colors and triangular balance, emphasizes both dignity and intimacy, offering a rare glimpse into the life of an elite Indo-Muslim woman.
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