WD1696-1711

BLAGRAVE, JANE (fl. 1809-1840)

Jane Blagrave (née Colvin) married Charles George Blagrave of the Company’s Bengal Service in Calcutta on 26 January 1809. Charles had entered the service in 1804 and arrived in India in 1806. In 1810 he was Assistant to the Opium Agent of Bihar and in 1811 Second Assistant to the Resident at Amboyna. In 1814 he officiated as Collector of Tirhut and in 1815 became Collector of Rangpur. He went on two years’ leave to Europe in 1821 and then became Collector of Etawah, U.P. in 1824. From 1835, until his death at Chittagong on 16 June 1836, he was stationed at various places around the Ganges delta - officiating Collector of the Jungle Mahals and Hijili and Salt Agent and Superintendent of the Salt Chokies at Bhulua, Jessore and Chittagong. At Jane’s marriage the register was signed by A. Blagrave, by her father, Alexander Colvin, by her brother Alexander and by R. Home. This was the artist, Robert Home, who in 1795 had married Ann Paterson, the sister of Jane’s mother. Perhaps Jane was encouraged to sketch by her uncle.

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WD1696-1711

16 drawings.

Purchased 9 November 1961.

Note: These sketches were part of an album compiled by his wife and made by herself or her friends between 1820 and 1837. The album originally included flower drawings signed ‘JMAB’and dated 1835 to 1837. The title page was inscribed ‘Mrs. C.G. Blagrave, 1837’ and, opposite, ‘C. Blagrave 1876’. The dealer who acquired the album was told that Jane Blagrave left India about 1840 and went to Ireland.