Emily Eden (1797-1869)
'Portraits of the Princes and Peoples of India by the Honble. Miss Eden/Drawn on the Stone by L. Dickinson'
with hand-coloured lithographed title page depicting the son of the Nawab of Banda, and twenty-four hand-coloured lithographed plates by Lowes Dickinson, heightened with watercolour and bodycolour, each with printed caption below the image, printed on card, printed by Charles Hullmandel, published by J Dickinson, London, 1844
unbound, in a portfolio
card 52 x 37cm
Emily Eden (1797-1869), the seventh daughter of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland, was a novelist, gifted artist and traveller. She journeyed to India in 1836 with her sister Fanny to join their brother George, Lord Auckland, who was Governor-General between 1835 and 1842, and proceeded to write entertaining accounts of her time there. These were full of local colour and included descriptions of ceremonies and social functions, witty observations and, on occasion, she gave perceptive insights into significant political events. After a stay in Calcutta, Emily and her two siblings toured through Oudh and the Upper Provinces between October 1837 and February 1840, when she recorded their experiences in letters and sketched the people and places they visited.
On her return to England in 1842, Emily worked up a number of the sketches, which she then had printed privately and published in four parts in the 'Portraits'. Most copies were issued in monochrome, but a few were enhanced by exquisite hand-colouring, of which the work offered here is one. The collection of twenty-four lithographs includes not only celebrated princely figures, such as the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, whom she met in 1838, and the King of the Punjab, Maharaja Sher Singh, but also members of their families, servants at Government House and various religious figures. On her meeting with Ranjit Singh, she presented him with her sketch of a portrait of Queen Victoria, with whom she corresponded, in her coronation robes.
The superb quality of the plates and the freshness of the hand-colouring capture the magnificence of the artist's subjects and their entourage, and the images include caparisoned elephants, horses from the Mararajas’ stables, hawks and even hunting leopards, a gift to Lord Auckland from the King of Oudh.
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"Emily Eden (1797-1869): A Journey through India in Words and Colors"
Emily Eden (1797-1869), the seventh daughter of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland, was a novelist, gifted artist and traveller. She journeyed to India in 1836 with her sister Fanny to join their brother George, Lord Auckland, who was Governor-General between 1835 and 1842, and proceeded to write entertaining accounts of her time there. These were full of local colour and included descriptions of ceremonies and social functions, witty observations and, on occasion, she gave perceptive insights into significant political events. After a stay in Calcutta, Emily and her two siblings toured through Oudh and the Upper Provinces between October 1837 and February 1840, when she recorded their experiences in letters and sketched the people and places they visited.
On her return to England in 1842, Emily worked up a number of the sketches, which she then had printed privately and published in four parts in the 'Portraits'. Most copies were issued in monochrome, but a few were enhanced by exquisite hand-colouring, of which the work offered here is one. The collection of twenty-four lithographs includes not only celebrated princely figures, such as the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, whom she met in 1838, and the King of the Punjab, Maharaja Sher Singh, but also members of their families, servants at Government House and various religious figures. On her meeting with Ranjit Singh, she presented him with her sketch of a portrait of Queen Victoria, with whom she corresponded, in her coronation robes.
The superb quality of the plates and the freshness of the hand-colouring capture the magnificence of the artist's subjects and their entourage, and the images include caparisoned elephants, horses from the Mararajas’ stables, hawks and even hunting leopards, a gift to Lord Auckland from the King of Oudh.
Sold for £7,500
Condition Report
The sheets are unbound in a portfolio and the corners are slightly worn with some small rips and tears to the edges. Some light time staining with dirty marks and smudges to the margins. Overall the printed areas appear to be in generally good condition. The sheets printed with text are foxed.
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Auction: The Guinness Sale at Elveden, 14th Sep, 2023
‘I wish all the recipients of lots from this Elveden auction years of enjoyment from their purchase, as I believe the vast majority of these items are likely to be heirlooms for generations of the future.’
Edward Iveagh
Viewing
Sale Location
The auction will take place at Elveden Hall, London Road, Elveden, Thetford IP24 3TQ. The sale commences at 10am, with doors open from 8.30am.
Viewing
Viewing will be held at Elveden Hall, London Road, Elveden, Thetford IP24 3TQ.
Entrance by catalogue only, admits two.
Purchased in advance - £35 (inc. postage) – Please send contact details to accounts@sworder.co.uk
Purchased on the door - £30
Saturday 9 September, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10 September, 10am - 4pm
Monday 11 September, 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 12 September, 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 13 September, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
Refreshments by Maision Bleue available on site.
Lots from Farmleigh are denoted by a ☘
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