Tomb at Srirangapatna

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Details

Size: 14 x 16.25 inches (with mount)
Medium: Hand-Coloured Etching and Aquatint
Condition: Good condition; light spotting on top right

Description

A fine and rare hand-coloured etching and aquatint by H. Merke, after a painting by James Hunter from “A Brief History of Ancient and Modern India” published Jan 1st 1804, by Edward Orme, His majesty’s printseller, 50 New Bond Street, London. The aquatint is titled “Music Gallery at the Entrance of the Mosque, Seringapatam.” but Hunter was probably mistaken in the title and this is more likely to be one of the entrance gateways to Tipu’s family mausoleum. In common with many other works of travel and topography of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the image was etched almost entirely in aquatint, which produces a soft tonal quality.
Lieutenant James Hunter (1755 - 1792) served in the Royal British Artillery in India and took part in the campaigns against Tipu Sultan, under Marquess Cornwallis. Hunter worked as a military artist, and his sketches portray aspects of military and everyday life. After the signing of the Treaty of Seringapatnam (Srirangapatna), Hunter took permission from Tipu Sultan to sketch the environs and monuments of his kingdom, for his collection of illustrations titled “Picturesque Scenery in the Kingdom of Mysore”, which were later engraved and published in the “A Brief History of Ancient and Modern India”.
Henri Merke was a Swiss engraver, a specialist in aquatint, and worked in London between 1800 - 1820.
Edward Orme (1775 - 1848) was a British engraver, painter and publisher of illustrated books.
The same image has been sold at Christies and is also in the collection of the British Museum.

The engraving measures 9.25 x 12 inches without the mount and 14 x 16.25 inches with the mount.

  • ABOUT Engravings & Etchings

    During the 18th and 19th centuries, several British and European men travelled within India and produced paintings, drawings, sketches and prints documenting the architecture, landscape, flora and fauna. Amongst these travellers were historians, artists, aristocrats and army officers. Upon their return to their home countries, some of them had their books published, which serve as an excellent record of India’s history, till date. The books had prints of the artworks created by these travellers, made using different printmaking techniques such as engraving, etching, aquatint, lithography and others.

    For instance, Thomas Daniell (1749 - 1840) and his nephew William Daniell (1769 - 1837) travelled extensively in India between 1786 and 1793. Thomas Daniell was the son of an innkeeper, who began his working life as a bricklayer before becoming an assistant to the coach painter of the king. On their return to Britain, Thomas and William produced many paintings, drawings and prints based on the sketches they had made while travelling. The 144 aquatint prints, collectively known as 'Oriental Scenery', represent the single largest and most impressive project by English artists to depict Indian architecture and landscape. Another famous traveller was Prince Waldemar of Prussia, Germany, who landed in Calcutta in January 1845, while on an expedition to explore distant lands. He was accompanied by a team of military men already familiar with India, a botanist and a medical doctor. Besides being a trained military man, Waldemar was also an enthusiastic artist and created many watercolour paintings and sketches depicting his travels across India. These watercolours were turned into lithographs in Berlin on his return. ‘In Memory of the Journey of Prince Waldemar of Prussia to India in the Years 1844-1846’ was printed posthumously in two volumes in 1853, and features many of his artworks. Other travellers to India whose work prints were later published include French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat, British Army Officer Captain Charles Gold, English watercolour painter Chares Bentley, amongst others.

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