Untitled [Set of 4 prints on Musicians]

a) Frans Balthazar Solvyns (1760–1824)
Saringee, played at nautches, &c.
1804
Hand-coloured stipple engraving on paper
Print Size: 13 x 9.5 in (33 x 24.5 cm)
With mount: 19 x 15.75 in (48.2 x 39.8 cm)

Plate LI from Frans Balthazar Solvyns, The Costume of Hindostan: Elucidated by Sixty Coloured Engravings; With Descriptions in English and French, Taken in the Years 1798 and 1799, London: Edward Orme, 1804.

b) Frans Balthazar Solvyns (1760–1824)
Bauluck
1804
Hand-coloured stipple engraving on paper
Print Size: 13 x 9.5 in (33 x 24.5 cm)
With mount: 19 x 15.75 in (48.2 x 39.8 cm)

Plate 31 from Frans Balthazar Solvyns, The Costume of Hindostan: Elucidated by Sixty Coloured Engravings; with Descriptions in English and French, Taken in the Years 1798 and 1799, London: Edward Orme, 1804.

c) Frans Balthazar Solvyns (1760–1824)
A Sunk, or Chank, and Gunta, or Tingaree
1804
Hand-coloured stipple engraving on paper
Print Size: 13 x 9.5 in (33 x 24.5 cm)
With mount: 19 x 15.75 in (48.2 x 39.8 cm)

Plate 46 from Frans Balthazar Solvyns, The Costume of Hindostan: Elucidated by Sixty Coloured Engravings; with Descriptions in English and French, Taken in the Years 1798 and 1799, London: Edward Orme, 1804.

d) Frans Balthazar Solvyns (1760–1824)
Pennauck, or Been
1804
Hand-coloured stipple engraving on paper
Print Size: 13 x 9.5 in (33 x 24.5 cm)
With mount: 19 x 15.75 in (48.2 x 39.8 cm)

Plate 50 from Frans Balthazar Solvyns, The Costume of Hindostan: Elucidated by Sixty Coloured Engravings; with Descriptions in English and French, Taken in the Years 1798 and 1799, London: Edward Orme, 1804.

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 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 four)

All 4 prints are accompanied by a descriptive text on the reverse.

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.