Ragoo, a Brahman (painting)

Oil painting. Portrait depicts a printer in the drawing office at the School of Military Engineering. The artist emphasised his ascetic features when she learned he was a Brahmin priest. She asked him to wear his priestly robes: the string around his neck can be seen in the painting. Dorothy Fitzgerald was wife of Colonel Fitzgerald Smith of the Indian Army. One of 15 portraits of Indian staff and colleagues painted by Fitzgerald, 8 are in the BEC collection.
Lacking proper supplies, Col Fitzgerald Smith used his old kit bag and deckchairs to supply the canvas, on stretchers made by his carpentry staff.
Signed bottom right.