Purshottam Vishram Mavji (1879 – 1929)
Philanthropist, Art collector and patron of Culture

Artist M. V. Dhurandhar (1867 – 1944)

dated 1931, Oil on canvas
35.8 x 24.8 in. (90.9 x 63 cm.)

Sheth Purshottam was a prominent Jain merchant, philanthropist, and connoisseur of art in the early 20th-century Bombay. Born into a prosperous textile business family, he emerged as a significant figure in cultural and civic circles. His passion for the arts led him to amass a rich collection of Mughal, Rajput, and Pahari paintings, as well as rare manuscripts. Deeply committed to Indian heritage, he actively supported artistic and literary initiatives. In 1920, he was honored alongside Rabindranath Tagore at the sixth Gujarati Sahitya Parishad Sammelan in Ahmedabad, a testament to his stature in both literary and public life. He also played a key role in supporting the publication of Suvarnamala, an album of paintings reflecting India’s glorious artistic past.

This formal portrait was painted posthumously from his early age photograph in 1931 by M.V. Dhurandhar. He was one of India’s foremost academic painters and the first Indian director of Sir J.J. School of Art in Bombay. Dhurandhar’s mastery is evident in the meticulous detailing-the sitter’s composed yet dignified expression, the rich textures of the textile, and the background suggesting urban Bombay. Holding a book, Mavji is presented as both a scholar and patron. This portrait serves as both an artistic and historical record of an eminent figure.