Leads on Bhedwar?

I am in quest of more information on the life and art of the commercial studio photographer Shapoor N. Bhedwar. He studied in London in 1889-92 and then opened a studio at Swiss Cottage in Cumballa Hill in Bombay which later became Excelsior studio and possibly evolved as the studio of J. S. Tarapore by 1920. The National Gallery of Australia holds several photographs by Bhedwar.

Bhedwar’s work featured in the exhibition "The Artful Pose: Early Studio Photography in Mumbai c. 1855-1940” at the Bhau Daji Lad Museum. His published works in Gujarati and booklets on the Feat of roses and Initiation of a Zoroastrian priest series have yet to be located. I would be most grateful for any assistance as also an opportunity to establish contact with his descendants.

GAEL NEWTON

Senior Curator of Photography

National Gallery of Australia

Australia

gael.newton@nga.gov.au