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Lot Essay
Sir Alexander Allan served in the Madras Native Infantry from 1780 until his retirement as a Major in 1804. He fought in the third and fourth Mysore Wars against Tipu Sultan and later became a Director of the East India Company in 1814.
An accomplished amateur draughtsman, Allan produced a remarkable series of views of Mysore during the wars, recording the region's forts, cities and landscapes with a keen topographical eye. Some of these drawings were published in London as Views in the Mysore Country (1794), and were admired by the artists Thomas and William Daniell during their visit to Bangalore in 1792.
The present work depicts a sentry post during the Siege of Seringapatam, 1799, with the sprawling fort in the distance. The four-week siege concluded on 4 May 1799 with a final unannounced assault lead by General George Harris and General David Baird. Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the Sultan of Mysore from 1782 until his death whilst defending his fort, depicted in the present watercolour, during the 1799 battle.
This watercolour can be confidently attributed to Allan. Stylistically, it can be compared to a number in the collection of the India Office Records, British Library, including View of Outradrug (Mysore) and View of Anchittidrug (Mysore). Allan's sensitive handling of the landscape, foliage and architecture exemplifies the artistic and documentary qualities that distinguish his rare Indian views.
An accomplished amateur draughtsman, Allan produced a remarkable series of views of Mysore during the wars, recording the region's forts, cities and landscapes with a keen topographical eye. Some of these drawings were published in London as Views in the Mysore Country (1794), and were admired by the artists Thomas and William Daniell during their visit to Bangalore in 1792.
The present work depicts a sentry post during the Siege of Seringapatam, 1799, with the sprawling fort in the distance. The four-week siege concluded on 4 May 1799 with a final unannounced assault lead by General George Harris and General David Baird. Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the Sultan of Mysore from 1782 until his death whilst defending his fort, depicted in the present watercolour, during the 1799 battle.
This watercolour can be confidently attributed to Allan. Stylistically, it can be compared to a number in the collection of the India Office Records, British Library, including View of Outradrug (Mysore) and View of Anchittidrug (Mysore). Allan's sensitive handling of the landscape, foliage and architecture exemplifies the artistic and documentary qualities that distinguish his rare Indian views.