Dutch East India Company Shipbuilding:
The Archaeological Study of Batavia and
Other Seventeenth-Century VOC Ships
by Wendy van Duivenvoorde
India, Deccan, Golconda; c. 1687
Precious Metals and Commerce:
The Dutch East India Company
in the Indian Ocean Trade
by Om Prakash
16.8 × 22.8 cm
The Dutch had had trading posts on India’s southeastern Coromandel Coast from the 16th century, but in the 17th were given competition from other European countries, including France, Britain, and Denmark.
The main figure in European dress has been identified as Cornelis van den Bogaerde. Bogaerde was in charge of the Dutch trading post in Hyderabad in the Islamic state of Golconda, and it was a local painter who made the two miniatures.
On this miniature we see Bogaarde with his Indian entourage, whose different garments, headgear, beards, and skin colour show that they are Muslims, Hindus, and the famed Rajput warriors. Some carry his weapons, others his fan, pipe, etc. Two of the Dutch East India Company’s banners head the procession.
Inv. no. 43/2008 & 42/2008
Source: The David Collection Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark.
