Nawab of Palanpur

A number of rare photographs of Indian royalty, including some of the Nawab of Palanpur taken by royal photographer K.L. Syed are being displayed at an exclusive exhibition in Delhi and Mumbai.  The display, called Vintage Photographs of the Maharajas, has been put together by Abhishek Poddar of Tasveer Arts and is supported by watch maker Vacheron Constantin.

Tasveer put the collection together over time from private individuals, galleries, dealers and auction houses. The collection dates between 1900 and 1930.

Speaking to the media, Poddar says that the careers of many photographers centred around photographing high society individuals and royalty. “For instance, K.L. Syed’s father was the hakim of the royal family. In the 1900s Syed came in contact with the then Nawab Shri Taley Mohammed Khan, who was suitably impressed with the photographs Syed took of his family. Soon Syed began accompanying the Nawab on all his trips, and eventually became the official photographer of Palanpur State.”

Prince of Palanpur

Syed was not just the official photographer of the state of Palanpur, but is also among the first Indians to handle a camera.

Among the 28 rare photos on display is one taken by Syed of the Nawab of Palanpur sitting on a wooden chair dressed in an achkan, with pearls around his neck and a proud turban on his head. Dry flowers are strewn on the floor in front of him, and a green bush has been painted in the backdrop. It is part of the private collection of the Nawab’s family.

In those days photography was a difficult profession. “It took a while for the photograph to be composed and one had to stand still for a long time,” says Poddar.  Curator of the exhibition Nathaniel Gaskell also said, “Photographers at this time used plate cameras, which took single sheets of large format film, and the images required long exposure time.” 

K L Syed

“We wanted to present prints that were in the best condition, as well as eye-catching in terms of composition, depiction of clothes, ornaments and facial expressions,” he added.

The exhibition is being held at Gallery Art Motif, F 213 C, Lado Sarai, Delhi from September 25-October 6.

In Mumbai, it will be held at Institute of Contemporary Indian Art, 22/26, K Dubhash Marg, Kala Ghoda from October 21-29.

Pics: Courtesy www.tasveerarts.com