NHD60

NHD60

Two drawings of plants, part of a large set belonging to Major James Nathaniel Rind (? - 1814).

By a Calcutta artist, c.1790-1800.

Gouache: 25.75by 17.75 in (654 by 451 mm).

From the collection of W.G. and M. Archer. Purchased 1978.

NOTE: The series may well have been specially commissioned by Rind. Rind served as a lieutenant in the Bombay Marine from 17 August 1778; appointed Cadet in the l8th Bengal Native Infantry 10 September 1778. He was one of the Assistants to Major James Browne at Delhi in April 1785 and on survey of the Sikh country and neighbourhood of Delhi 1785-87; Lieutenant 17th Battalion Sepoys July 1787; employed on survey duty 1787-90 (surveyed routes Etawah to Aligarh, Kalpi to Nagpur, Narbada River to Mirzapur, Ganges from Allahabad to Benares. He transferred from the 17th Battalion to Adjutant and Quartermaster 1st Sepoy Brigade, 18 November 1793; Brigade Major 1st Brigade, 15 November 1794 until January 1801, Captain 14th Native Infantry in 1798; transferred to 17th Native Infantry and to l8th Native Infantry 29 May 1800. Furlough 4 April 1801 until retirement. Rind was probably based on Calcutta from 1793 to 1801 and the drawings were probably made for him during that time. For other drawings from this set see Hartnoll and Eyre exhibition catalogue ‘Indian painting for the British, 1770-1880’, cat. 24, 1972, 1-16, and S.C.Welch, ‘Room for Wonder’; ‘Indian painting during the British Period 1760-1880’ (New York, 1978), pp. 45-47. See also WD3465-3471.