ML1256 Eight individual studies in small dark grey frames pasted onto an album page - from the Louisa Parlby Album Murshidabad, India1795-1803 Watercolour on paper Album page 50 × 76.2 cmFrom top left to right:A snake charmerB annoyed African servantC urddhvabahu ascetic with one upraised hand D man dancing with two swords with interesting turban and cummerbundE same man and another with swordsF standing tabla playerG dancers at the Charak Puja festival H female dancerThis set of eight individual character studies to be seen in Bengal in the late 18th to early 19th century, including ascetics, musicians and others likely to be seen at festivals such as the Charak Puja (hook-swinging festival), were of interest to foreigners then living in Bengal. The Parlby album from which this sheet originates, contained various sets of architectural, topographical, festival and individual studies painted by Bengal artists from 1795–1803.In the context of Singapore, the sepoys were among the first Indians to arrive in Singapore. In January 1819, 120 sepoys landed in Singapore, together with Sir Stamford Raffles and Farquhar. They belonged to the Bengal Native Infantry and were accompanied by a bazaar contingent comprising of washermen, tea-makers, milkmen and domestic servants. This set of individual studies captures in realistic manner the life and operations of Bengalis in Murshidabad; providing apt socio-historical milieu about Bengalis who later arrived in Singapore.
