Foster 91

Lord Clive (1725-74) receiving from the Nawab of Bengal the grant of the sum of money which was later used to establish the charity known as ‘Lord Clive’s Fund’ for helping disabled soldiers as well as widows of those dying in the Company’s service. Painted 1772-73.

The principal figure is Clive wearing a scarlet coat with facings and cuffs of black velvet, ornamented with gold braid, scarlet breeches and buff waistcoat with the red ribbon of the Bath. He has a black gold-braided hat, grey stockings, and shoes with gold buckles. Nawab Najim al-Daula, son and successor of Mir Jafar, stands on his right wearing a long ‘jama’ of flowered silk. In his right hand Clive holds a folded document, and with his left he points to a group of destitute soldiers. The foremost of these wears the uniform of the Bengal Artillery (blue with red facings); while three more Europeans, in red uniforms, together with an Indian soldier, also in red, with a blue and white turban, represent the other branches of the Company’ military service. In the background sits an English widow with an infant on her lap and her right arm clasping a boy; two other children stand by her.

54 by 48 ins (137 by 122 cms)

Commissioned by the East India Company, 1772 for the decoration of the Military Fund Office

Literature: M. Archer (1979), 415-17, pl.331

Exhibited: ‘British painting 1600-1800’, Sydney and Melbourne, 1977-78 (35); National Portrait Gallery, ‘The Raj’, 1990, no.111

See Court Minutes, 3 February 1773. ‘On a Motion, Order’d that Mr. Penny be allowed the sum of £150 out of the Contingent Military Fund for painting a Picture on the subject of Lord Clive’s receiving from the Nabob of Bengal the Grant of the Sum of Money which was applied to establish the Fund for Disabled Officers and Soldiers in the Company’s Service’.

‘Letter from Mr. Edward Penny representing the insufficiency of the sum paid him for Painting a Picture for the Military Fund Office being read, and the Court considering thereof Order’d that Mr. John Christopher Roberts pay Mr. Penny the further sum of £60, making in the whole 200 Guineas, out of the Contingent Military Fund, and charge the same in his Account of Disbursements’. (Court Minutes, 25 March 1773).

The Parliamentary enquiry into Clive’s amassing of his fortune was proceeding during 1772-73. It is possible that the Company commissioned the painting at this time to bolster Clive’s reputation.

Penny was a suitable choice as artist. He was attracted by the theme of ‘exemplum virtutis’. Usually such themes were chosen from classical or medieval history. In 1768 he had exhibited ‘The Generous Behaviour of Chevalier Bayard’ at the Society of Artists, but he later translated such themes to an English environment. The painting of Clive’s charity was later followed by ‘The Generosity of Johnny Pearmain, or the widow Costard’s cow and goods, restrained for taxes, are redeemed by the generosity of Johnny Pearmain’, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1782.