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Panorama of a durbar procession of Akbar II, Emperor of Delhi, 1806-37, probably on the occasion of the Id or after Ramadan. The Emperor is followed by his sons, by the British Resident, high officials both Indian and British, as well as by troops. The royal procession includes elephants carrying the royal insignia (sun, umbrella, fish standards, etc.), camels, horses, gun-carriages, palanquins and closed bullock-carriages for the ladies.

By a Delhi artist, c.1815.

Inscribed on original tin container: ‘Native Painting. Durbar Procession Baroda.’

Water-colour; 6.25 by 94 ins.

Presented by E. Lennox Boyd, 1903.

Note: Exhibited Festival of Empire 1911. ‘See Journal of Indian art and industry,’ xv, no.120, October 1912, 89, exhibit no.505, where it is mis-ascribed to Baroda.

At the time of presentation Mr Boyd stated that the picture had been acquired by W.S. Boyd, Bombay Civil Service, 1818-44, who was for some time Resident at Baroda. Although he may have acquired the scroll in Baroda, it clearly depicts Akbar II. The British Resident is probably Charles Metcalfe, Resident at Delhi, 1811 to 1819. Scrolls of this type were very popular in the early years of the nineteenth century. In the Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta, there is a similar scroll which includes David Ochterlony (Resident at Delhi 1818-22) in the procession. Another scroll is reproduced in ‘Journal of Indian Art and Industry,’ xvi, no.123, July1913, plate 11. [See also Add.Or.5475, the ‘Delhi Book’ of Sir Thomas Metcalfe, reproduced M.M. Kaye, ‘The Golden Calm’.]

For details of these processions and the symbols of royalty carried in them, see ‘Journal of Indian art and industry,’ xv, no.120, October 1912, 77-78.