Portraits as an art form already existed in India nearly two thousand years ago, most notably on the walls of Buddhist cave temples carved into the rock faces of Ajanta. The story of the Indian portrait is a fascinating journey, encompassing notions of the real and the ideal, the observed and the imagined. The collection presented here consists mainly of artworks of known people and documented portraits, but also includes some that remain anonymous. These images reveal the history of the period as well as the personal histories of the individuals they depict.

Portraits are defined as recognizable images of human individuals, and if the artwork represents the sitter’s face accurately then it is regarded as a faithful representation of that person. Different regions and periods produced strikingly varied styles of portraiture. Anil Relia takes you on a fascinating journey, through time, of how Indian artists have approached the portrait at various places across the Indian subcontinent. His aim is to celebrate the beauty, power and humanity of these works of art, showing that Indian portraits at their best can be no less compared to outstanding portraits from around the world.

Several exhibitions displaying artworks from Anil Relia’s collection have already been curated. You can see the catalogues of these exhibitions below. The collection section of this website is an online museum which contains individual images and details of the artworks. Many more exhibitions have already been planned and will be updated on the website.

The Indian Portrait

an artistic journey from
miniature to modern

Sacred Journey of Tilkayat Govardhanlalji, Nathdwara

Sacred Journey of
Tilkayat Govardhanlalji, Nathdwara

A Historical Journey of Graphic Prints up to Independence

A Historical Journey of Graphic Prints
up to Independence

Muraqqa - an Anthological Journey of the Mughal EmpireMuraqqa – an Anthological Journey of
the Mughal Empire

Colonial Influence on Raja Ravi Varma and his ContemporariesColonial Influence on Raja Ravi Varma and his Contemporaries

A Photographic evolution from documentation to posterityA Photographic evolution from documentation to posterity

Trans-culturalisation of lens and brush through painted photographsTrans-culturalisation of lens and brush through painted photographs

Paintings from the Royal courts of Rajasthan 1660-1940 CERajputana Nayak | Paintings from the Royal courts of Rajasthan 1660-1940 CE

A Parsi delight | Paintings, Photographs, Prints & CollectiblesA Parsi delight | Paintings, Photographs, Prints & Collectibles

Visions of a Bygone Era 1590 - 1890Visions of a Bygone Era: 1590 – 1890

Jyoti Bhatt's Photographs of His ContemporariesJyoti Bhatt’s Photographs of His Contemporaries

Chitrashala Press | Freedom Fighters Printer in PoonaChitrashala Press | Freedom Fighter Printer in Poona

Studio portraiture by Bourne & Shepherd of Princely India, 1870sStudio portraiture by Bourne & Shepherd of Princely India, 1870s

Dancing in the Shadows: Tawaifs - CourtesansDancing in the Shadows: Tawaifs – Courtesans