Object size: ,
matboard size: 71.0 x 96.5 cm
ML1257 Eight individual studies in small dark grey frames pasted onto an album page - from the Louisa Parlby Album Murshidabad, India 1795-1803 Watercolour on paper Album page 50 × 76.2 cm From top left to right: A warrior with sword and shield, a burkandaz B two burkandazes, back view, with muskets and powder horns (both after Home) C two women with water pitchers D two dom or large drum players for the holi festival E young servant boy with folded arms F male dancers with huge drum G Shaiva dancer playing with his long locks at the charak puja H Shaiva dancer with long spike through cheeks at the Charak Puja This set of eight individual character studies to be seen in Bengal in the late 18th to early 19th century, including soldiers, dancers 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.
