Untitled [Set of 2 pleasure boats prints of Calcutta]

a) Frans Balthazar Solvyns
A Bangles
1799
Original hand-coloured etching on paper mounted on paper
Print Size: 15.75 x 11 in (39.8 x 27.5 cm)
With Mount: 22 x 17 in (55.5 x 43.3 cm)

Plate No.11 from Section 9 of A Collection of Two Hundred and Fifty Coloured Etchings Descriptive of the Manners, Customs and Dress of the Hindoos published by Mirror Press, Calcutta, 1799.

b) Frans Balthazar Solvyns
A Sloop
1799
Original hand-coloured etching on paper mounted on paper
Print Size: 15.75 x 11 in (39.8 x 27.5 cm)
With Mount: 22 x 17 in (55.5 x 43.3 cm)

Plate No. 3 from Section 9 of A Collection of Two Hundred and Fifty Coloured Etchings Descriptive of the Manners, Customs and Dress of the Hindoos published by Mirror Press, Calcutta, 1799

Both the prints are mounted to larger sheets within manuscript-ruled borders, with printed titles, sections, and plate numerals pasted in margins.

Frans Balthazar Solvyns (1760–1824)
Belgian marine artist Frans Balthazar Solvyns lived in Calcutta between 1791 and 1803 and is considered one of the earliest printmakers in India besides Thomas Daniell. During his time in India, he documented 18th-century Indian culture and habitats, including the people, their occupations, festivals, and religious customs.

Solvyns, residing in Calcutta from 1791 until 1803, produced a remarkable series of engravings depicting the people and culture he observed. His landmark work A Collection of Two Hundred and Fifty Coloured Etchings Descriptive of the Manners, Customs and Dress of the Hindoos published by Mirror Press, Calcutta, 1799, documented for the first time the vibrant and multifaceted life of Bengal through exquisite hand-coloured etchings. Among these, the "Pleasure Boats" series in Section 8 stands out, illustrating the elegant river vessels used by the elite for leisure and transport along the Ganges. These depictions capture the artistry and functionality of traditional Bengali boat-making, showcasing intricately designed structures that blend utility with aesthetic finesse, integral to the region's cultural heritage. Solvyns' meticulous renderings offer a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of 18th-century Bengal and the deep connection of its people to riverine traditions.

(Set of two)

This lot will be shipped unframed.

NON-EXPORTABLE

This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition.