Palanquin

A palanquin is similar to a sedan chair. It was carried by four men in relays, with changes every 10 miles, and usually at night to avoid the heat. The design of this palanquin indicates it was intended for someone of high status - the upholstery is silk brocade or velvet, with flowers in gold thread. Palanquins for normal use were much simpler and more box-like.

If a lady was being carried the curtains would usually be drawn shut for privacy; a man would have the curtains open in daytime, but closed if travelling at night.

This painting is part of local amateur botanist Richard Cresswell’s (1815-1882) collection. It is one of 86 Indian paintings (mostly botanical) and dates to the early 1800s.

Between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries, the British East India Company extended its control over much of the Indian subcontinent. Keen to exploit and export valuable natural commodities, the Company set out to record the flora and fauna of India. It commissioned Indian artists to create detailed illustrations but officials rarely recorded their names. British scientists supervised the work and paper from England, made by companies such as Whatman, was imported for use.

Responding to British patronage, Indian artists developed a new style of painting, mixing Indian and European traditions. This has come to be known as the ‘Company School’ art and these paintings belong to that broad tradition. It was common for officials (who were not employed as medics or botanists) to build their own personal collections of paintings. The flora and fauna depicted was sometimes from their own gardens and menageries.
 
We cannot be sure how Richard Cresswell came by this collection of Company School works. It is plausible they came to him via his wife’s family. Frances Creighton (1821-1904) was born in Bengal where her father, Robert (1797-1827), was a judge. Research suggests that his father was Henry Creighton (1764-1807).  Charles Grant, a senior Company official, appointed Henry manager of an indigo factory at Guamalati. He is best known for his research and paintings on the ruins at Gaur. It is possible Henry commissioned the botanical drawings and they were passed down through the family. However, research has not yet uncovered any evidence for this connection.
 
17 of the 86 works have attributions on the reverse. These three artists, Sheikh Zain al-din, Ram Das and Bhawani Das, are known to have worked for Lady Mary Impey, wife of Sir Elijah Impey the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Calcutta. There is also evidence that they worked for Anna Maria Jones, the wife Sir William Jones, after the Impeys returned to Britain.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
19/1927/2/88
Collection Class
Drawings
Collector Excavator
Cresswell, Reverend Richard (from the collection of)
Medium
watercolour on paper
Common Name
palanquin
Simple Name
drawing
Inscription Transcription
HERB. MUS. EXON CRESSWELL COLLECTION 19/1927; No 88; Palanquin
Period Classification
George III (1760-1811)
Production Town
Calcutta
Production County
Bengal
Production Country
India
Production Person Surname
unknown Indian artist
Production Year Low
1780
Production Year High
1810

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Palanquin