A Royal Palette: Vamanrao Pandit

Son of renowned Sanskrit scholar and Diwan or Prime Minister of Porbandar state, Rao Bahadur Dr. Shankarrao P. Pandit, Vamanrao (1882-1941) was born with a marked talent for portraiture, later honed by no less than two of the most celebrated artists of Europe, Philip de Laszlo and John Singer Sargent.

Vamanrao has painted the well-known and well-heeled: Sir Dorab Tata, Sudhira Devi (Gayatri Devi’s paternal aunt), Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Sir Ibrahim Rahimtoolah, Maharaja Sayajirao Geakwar, Maha...