Foster 245

The East offering its riches to Britannia, 1778

‘The principal figure represents Britannia seated on a rock, to signify the firmness and stability of the empire; and as guardian and protectress of the Company, who are denoted by children behind Britannia, and overshadowed by her veil. The union of the old and new Companies is expressed by two children embracing each other, and one of them placed sitting on the upper part of the rock, to show the firm basis on which the present Company stands; on the other part of the rock the child climbing up towards the summit is intended to express the prospect of the Company’s continuance. Britannia is characterised by the usual emblems of the shield and spear, and guarded by a lion, which lays tamely by her side, pleased with the offerings made her from the different East-Indian provinces. At the foot of the rock lays the genius of the Ganges, in a majestic attitude, pouring out his whole stream on Britannia’s footstool. The various provinces are represented under the Conduct of Mercury, the god of merchandise, eagerly pressing to deposit their different produce and manufactures before the throne of Britannia. Calcutta (the capital settlement of the Company in Bengal) presents a basket with pearls and other rich jewels, which Britannia received. China is characterised by jars of porcelain and chests of tea; the produce of Madras and Bombay by a corded bale; Bengal is denoted by an elephant, palm-trees and a camel. Persia appears at a distance bringing silks, drugs, and other effects, and with her are to be supposed all the rest of the provinces; which the artist could not describe on the canvas without crowding or destroying the whole composition, and harmony of the picture. At a distance is an Indiaman under sail, laden with the treasure of the East, an emblem of that commerce from which both Britain and the Company derive great and singular advantages’. (‘Gentleman’s magazine’, 1778).

Inscribed: ‘S Roma. 1778’

Oval: 90 by 120 ins (228 by 305 cms)

Commissioned by the East India Company, 1778

Literature: ‘Gentleman’s magazine’, vol.48, 1778, 628-9; ibid, vol.59, 1789, pt 2, 701-2; E. Edwards, ‘Anecdotes of painters who have resided or been born in England’ (London, 1808), 118; E. Croft-Murray, ‘Decorative painting in England’ (London, 1962), vol. II, 44-5; P. Rohatgi, ‘India Office Library and Records Newsletter,’ December 1976, no.9.

In 1777 Spiridione Roma was commissioned by the East India Company to make an ‘Allegoric Ceiling piece’ for one of the rooms in the East India House - probably for the Treasury or one of the Committee Rooms. Edwards relates that his main ability lay in cleaning pictures but that ‘by some interest he obtained a commission to paint a ceiling at the East India House, a work too feeble to confer any credit either on the artist or his employers.’ ‘Gentleman’s magazine’ vol.59 notes that the work was obtained ‘by the patronage of his friend Mr. Wheeler’. The Company’s Cash Journal, 1773-79 for October 1778 (L/AG/1/5/20, p.363) shows a payment of £50.10.0 ‘To Spiridione Roma, which, with £50 paid him by Order of this Committee on 17th April 1777 and the 7th inst, and £10 advanced him by the Secretary on 16 Oct. 1777 is in full for the reward of £100 held out to him for the Allegoric Ceiling piece painted by him and including 10 guineas for the frame work.’ When East India House was demolished the painting was cut out from the ceiling of the Revenue Committee Room and reset in the ceiling over the south east staircase in the India Office where it still remains.