The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Company School of Painting, also known as Kampani Kalam, emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries as a hybrid Indo-European style. It developed when Indian artists, previously patronized by the declining Mughal and regional courts, sought employment with officials of the British East India Company. The style represents an adaptation of traditional Indian miniature techniques to suit European aesthetic tastes and documentary needs.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Company School did not rely exclusively on oil paints. In fact, the artists primarily used watercolours and gouache. A distinctive feature of this school was the use of paper and mica (transparent sheets) as a base, alongside ivory. While they adopted some European pigments, the medium remained largely water-based, distinct from the oil-on-canvas tradition of European academic art.
- Statement 2 is Correct. The primary objective of Company paintings was documentary. British patrons commissioned these works to record the "exotic" life of India, including its flora, fauna, festivals, costumes, and occupations. This required artists to shift from the idealized or decorative styles of traditional miniatures to a style based on close observation and naturalism.
- Statement 3 is Correct. The aesthetic of the Company School is defined by the incorporation of European artistic conventions into Indian subjects. Key elements included the use of linear perspective (creating depth) and shading (chiaroscuro) to give volume to figures and objects. This contrasted with the flat, two-dimensional nature of traditional Indian miniatures.
Key Takeaway:
The Company School (e.g., Patna School) is a hybrid style blending traditional Indian miniature techniques with European realism, perspective, and shading. It primarily utilized watercolours on paper and mica to document Indian life for British patrons.