Shipment charges are calculated based on the location of the artwork.

Parley with Wheels in Beechwara Pass, print (a), depicts a scene of confrontation between a group of people and the Bhils, a tribe from central India. The scene takes place at a junction in Beechwara, a region in Sindh (Western India) where a battle appears to be the on the brink of occurring. A few men on horses with spears are rooted in the foreground in contrast to the numerous bow and arrow holding figures lining the hills portrayed in the background.

Son of Peter John Luard of Blyborough Hall, Lincolnshire, Lieutenant-Colonel John Luard (1790 - 1875) served in the navy from 1806 - 08, and consecutively in the army. In 1821 he purchased a troop in the 16th lancers, and in 1822 was sent to India and served there 1830 (he went back in 1838 as military secretary to the commander in chief till 1844). Considered one of the most talented amateur artists who depicted India, Luard produced the majority of his works showing local customs, architecture and military actions in India while working there as a captain between 1822 and 1830. He was later known for authoring the published History of the Dress of the British Soldier in 1852. Bhurtpore 1826, print (b) displays another battle scene from the infamous siege of Bharatpur, a heavily fortified city, the fort of Bharatpur was said to be impenetrable (due to failed attempts in 1805) which was true until 1826, when it fell to the British. Numerous soldiers line the hills leading up to the solid fort, a top that a soldier stands with his sword raised in the air. The siege of Bharatpur was a significant victory for the British in terms of reestablishing their control and reasserting their dominance in India.

Print (c) offers a different perspective from inside the fort, on top of the hill in contrast to the previous one. A large cannon placed strategically is depicted, a long with a view over looking the city below. Since 1825, the city was under political turmoil due to the death of the Raja, who left an infant son heir. Taking advantage of the unstable situation, a usurper took control of many regions of Bharatpur, provoking the British into a war in 1826, eventually resulting in the Siege encapsulated in this print.

Crossing The Line, print (d) seems to take place on either a boat, ship, or dock, centering on one individual who is perhaps a leader or ruler, due to the crown on his head and his throne like seat. He is surrounded by the smiling faces of all kinds of people. Another individual, whose back faces the viewer appears to be paying his respects to the ruler or is being introduced to him.

a) Parley with Wheels in Beechwarra Pass
b) Bhurtpore 1826, Drawn from Nature and on stone by Captain J. Luard, printed by Graf and Sorel
c) Gun at Bhurtpore, Drawn from Nature and on Stone by Captain J. Luard, Maguire Lemercier & Co. Lith
d) Crossing The Line, Drawn from Nature and on Stone by Major J. Luard, J. Graf Printer to Her Majesty

These prints are in good condition. The prints have survived several decades and may show some signs of wear and tear. This does not in any way detract from their beauty or value.

These items are sold unframed. They are available for viewing in Saffronart's London gallery.

About Poems in Print: People and Places of India

The fusion of romanticism and documentation is exhibited in this new collection of 18th – 19th century British prints of colonial India. Illustrated from an Oriental perspective, these prints served as valuable displays or notes of observations that were forming through the discovery of a vast and newly conquered India. While they were incredibly useful for purposes of documentation, they also evoked a romantic sense of adventure that is usually associated with Orientalism.

A diverse group of artists are represented in the collection, both amateur and established artists are included, while some came from military backgrounds, others were skilled print makers and engravers. Each provided a unique perspective on their discoveries of and fascination with the people and places of India. A few of the artists represented include William Daniell, John Luard, Charles Gold, and Thomas Bacon. Most prints were based on sketches that were made during their travels, and printed as artworks, while others were published in British Newspapers such as The Illustrated London News. Others were used for more academic purposes, such as those made for the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal. The publishing and distribution of all these prints had one unified result, which was to establish an image of India with the people of Britain, and Europe at large, thus whether they were intended to or not they became instrumental in creating perceptions and notions of what India was.

Thus the historical value of these works lie in their representation of an 18th and 19th century India, as well as the educative role they fulfilled in informing all those who were unable to see India for themselves. While their artistic value lies in the unique aura that each work revels in, each artist managed to convey a romanticism that is evoked through the exploration of the people and places of a new land and culture.