GANTZ, John (1772–1853)

An original hand-coloured lithograph by GANTZ, John (1772–1853) from the celebrated publication The Indian Microcosm. The scene depicts a solemn funeral procession passing through a monumental gateway, with pallbearers carrying the deceased upon a bier while relatives and mourners follow behind. The carefully observed figures, architecture and costume reflect Gantz’s commitment to documenting the customs and daily life of India with remarkable ethnographic accuracy.

Unlike many early nineteenth-century publications devoted to picturesque scenery, The Indian Microcosm focused upon the occupations, ceremonies and social practices of the Indian subcontinent. Through finely executed lithographs, Gantz created one of the earliest visual surveys of Indian customs produced in India itself. The present plate records an important ceremonial tradition and provides valuable insight into contemporary funerary practices during the early colonial period.

Printed and published in Madras by John Gantz & Son, the series occupies a significant place in the history of Indian lithography and remains one of the finest illustrated records of nineteenth-century Indian life. Individual plates are considerably scarcer than complete works by better-known topographical artists and are increasingly sought after by collectors of colonial India, ethnographic art and early lithographic printing.

ref. Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography, No. 445 (The Indian Microcosm).