Two Parts of a Three-Part Panorama of Battle of Seringapatam

Depicting a combat scene between British and Indian troops on a bridge over a stream or moat, with the fortress of Seringapatam in the background.

Set of two parts of a three-part large tinted stippled engraved panorama by John Vendramini after Robert Ker Porter published by R K Porter and J P Thompson, London, 1802

b) The Storming of Seringapatam
Text in lower border with dedication to the King, and publishing details. Printed 'London Published as the Act directs, January 1, 1802 by Robert Ker Porter, No. 6, Gerrard Street, and John P Thompson, Great Newport Street, and No.51, Dean Street, Soho / To The Honorable the court of Directors of the East India Company / To The King's most Excellent Majesty. / This Plate 'The Storming of Seringapatam' is with / his gracious humbly dedicated by his Majesty's most faithful subject & Faithful son'.
Print Size: 24.4 x 35.8 in (62 x 91 cm)
With Mount: 29.7 x 41.5 in (75.5 x 105.5 cm)

c) The Glorious conquest of Seringapatam
Text in lower border with dedication to the King, and publishing details. Printed 'London Published as the Act directs, July 1802 by Robert Ker Porter, No. 6, Gerrard Street, and John P Thompson, Great Newport Street, and No.51, Dean Street, Soho/ To The most noble 'The Marquis Wellesley who planned to Lieut Gen. Harris who commanded to Lieu. Gen. Baird, The Officers and Privates, who achieved / 'The Glorious conquest of Seringapatam'. / This plate is dedicated by their obedient servants'.
Print Size: 24.4 x 35.8 in (62 x 91 cm)
With Mount: 29.7 x 41.5 in (75.5 x 105.5 cm)

At the start of the 19th century, panoramas were a common type of amusement. Their promoters competed fiercely to produce the biggest, most relevant, or most realistic content. Printed “keys” or schematics identifying and explaining the events and characters depicted were made and sold to help guide the audience.

Sir Robert Ker Porter (1777-1842) made his name with vast panoramas of topical battles exhibited at the Lyceum in London. The Storming of Seringapatam was a semi-circular painting measuring no less than 120 feet across.

The 4th Anglo-Mysore War (1798-1799) was a conflict in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company. The final conflict among the four Anglo-Mysore Wars, this marked the capture of the capital of Mysore by the British, and the death of their ruler Tipu Sultan, also known as the “Tiger of Mysore”. The Seige of Seringapatam, depicted in this lot, is considered a key battle in this War. On 4 May 1799, the British forces of the East India Company forces besieged Seringapatam, which was the fortress capital of Tipu Sultan. Despite a strong defence, many died, including the fearless leader. Following his death, Mysore was partitioned and the rump of the state given to a British client ruler. Tipu was considered to be one of the most formidable Indian opponents the British ever faced and his death was a huge blow to the initial efforts of the Indian freedom struggle.

Robert Ker Porter, although never having visited India, was one of the first artists to depict the British victory at Seringapatam. The present lot is made from a vast painting that he made, a panorama covering 2,550 square feet of canvas. The painting was painted in six weeks, when the artist was only twenty-three. A correspondent to The Athenaeum of 1843, recalled that "within six weeks after he had listened to its details, he suddenly astonished the people of London, by presenting the whole scene on a spread of canvas of one hundred and twenty feet, in the Great Room at the Lyceum."

The painting was created with the most correct information relative to the scenery of the place, the costume of the soldiers, and the various circumstances of the attack. A large-scale execution, it depicts several life-size figures, including portraits of known British officers. To the left of the painting, is Tipu's palace, depicting the Sultan and his French commander, Chapuy, visible on the battlements. (Source: The National Galleries of Scotland)

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