Mss Eur G91(186a)

Genre: Portrait Photography

Full-length standing portrait, against a painted backdrop of a rustic scene, of Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Francis Cunningham (1820-1875), 23rd Madras Light Infantry 1838-61. This appears to be a copy photograph. Bowring writes: 'During many years, the secretary of the Commission was Captain F. Cunningham, a son of the poet Allan Cunningham, and a brother of the well known archaeologist General A. Cunningham, and of Major J.D. Cunningham who wrote the 'History of the Sikhs.' He wielded a ready and incisive pen, his official letters showing great command of language, in which was often a vein of irony and humour that was unpalatable to the recipients. He had left the Commission before I joined, but had taken service with the Raja at Mysore, his principal duty being to compose the despatches which His Highness sent to the Government about his claims, a task which his literary qualifications enabled him to perform exceedingly well, although his presence at the capital and the encouragement given by him to intriguing parties were a source of some embarrassment to me...'

[Albumen print, probably a copy photograph, 84x130mm].

Subjects = Bowring Collection; government officers; Mysore Commission