ARCHER, Mildred Agnes (née Bell, called “Tim”). London 28.12.1911 — Cleeve, Somerset 4.5.2005. British Art Historian. Daughter of two teachers. Studies at Oxford (St.Hilda’s College): M.A., D.Litt. 1977. Wife and helper of —> W. G. Archer (1907–1979), since 1934. On 1934-48 they were living in India (mainly Bihar), where the husband belonged to I.C.S. From 1954 working at India Office, finally Keeper of Printings and Drawings, retired in 1980. O.B.E. 1979. Long outlived her husband. They had one son and one daughter.Archer’s main interests were paintings made by Indian artists for Europeans during the 18th and 19th centuries, and also works by European artists under Indian patronage.
Publications: Patna Painting. 46 p. 48 pl. L. 1948; Tippoo’s Tiger. 30 p. 22 pl. L. 1959.
– Natural History Drawings in the Indian Office Library. 116 p. L. 1962; Indian Architecture and the British. 64 p. 39 pl. Feltham 1968; British Drawings in the Indian Office Library. 1-2. 712 p. 120 pl. L. 1969; Company drawings in the India Office Library. 298 p. L. 1972 (catalogue); Early views of India: the picturesque journeys of Thomas and William Daniell, 1786–1794. 240 p. 258 ill. L. 1980; The India Office collection of paintings and sculpture. 124 p. 32 pl. L. 1986.
– With W. G. Archer: Indian painting for the British. 145 p. 24 pl. L. 1955.
– India and British portraiture, 1770–1825. 536 p. 362 ill. L. 1979.
– With T. Falk: Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library. 559 p. ill. L. 1981.
– With C. Rowell & R. Skelton: Treasures from India. The Clive Collection at Powis Castle. 144 p. 152 ill. L. 1987.
– With Gr. Parlett: Company paintings: Indian paintings of the British period. 240 p. ill. L. 1992.
– India Served and Observed. 71 p. 25 fig. 1994 (memoirs).
Sources: R. Head, JRAS 15, 2005, 351-354 with photo; obituary in theguardian.com; Wikipedia.
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