Add Or 4365

Panorama of the city of Dacca, extending along the river for about six miles along the north bank of the Baraganga branch of the Ganges, from the sugar mills on the right to the Lalbagh palace on the left. The panorama is very detailed, and shows Mughal buildings (the greater and lesser Katras, the Lalbagh Fort, and various mosques), the Greek, Armenian and English churches, and European houses and station buildings. Along the length of the river are numerous commercial, fishing and transportation craft. The panorama appears to be the original on which is based the coloured lithograph published by Dickinson & Co. in 1847, and would appear to have been commissioned by John Francis Griffith Cooke.

By a Calcutta or Dacca artist, artist, c.1845.

Inscribed below in ink, from the right, in the order of the printed version: ‘Mills; An Armenian Gentm.; Boat for Merchandize; Collector’s Office; Mr. H.; Accomodation Boat; Mr. C.; Dr. L.; Mr. H.; Church; Station Billiard Room; Mr. D.; Mr. W.; Rev. Mr. S.; Boat’[..]; ‘ A Native Gentleman’s House; A Guard Boat; Armenian Church; Rice Boat; Fishing Boat; Lesser Cutra; Pinnace of W.S.; Greek Church; Residence of W.S.; a fine old ruin called the Khutra; Ruins of an old Palace called the Lall Bagh.’

Water-colour over pen and ink; 15.5 by 671 cm within black painted frame.

Purchased 1976, along with P.1556, Dickinson’s lithographic version of 1847. The cover of the latter was subsequently discovered, which gives John Francis Griffith Cooke as a provenance for both versions.

Note: Cooke, Civil and Sessions Judge at Dacca 1840-45, retired from the service in 1845, and presumably commissioned this panorama and also had it lithographed when he returned to London. The published version has very many more annotations.