Sacred banyan tree and temple at Joucalla between Kaliyanpur and Berhampore - 1795

Watercolour of a sacred banyan tree and temple at Joucalla, by an anonymous artist, part of the Hyde Collection, c. 1790-1800. Inscribed on the back in ink and pencil: 'Fukeers' Taqoorbarriee and Sacred Banian Tree on the road from Calianpore to Boorhanpore. Village named Joucoulla.'.

The East India Company was influential on Indian culture and a new painting school developed in response to the tastes and influences of the British serving with the Company. Company painting first emerged in Murshidabad in the second half of the 18th century. It is a style of miniature painting that subsequently spread to other British centres. This drawing depicts a scene in Joucalla, located between Kaliyanpur and Berhampore, in the Murshidabad style of painting. It shows a small Hindu temple and monastery situated beside a large banyan tree.

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