Lot Essay
Tipu Sultan (1749/55-1799) or Fateh Ali Tipu, was the Sultan of Mysore and one of the last powerful, independent sovereigns in southern India. His kingdom posed a significant threat to British military power in India. Stories of Tipu Sultan's cruel treatment of British prisoners after the humiliating defeats of the 2nd Mysore War of 1780-84 led to hysterical indignation in Britain. Relief was great, when Cornwallis fought back in 1792 and forced a treaty upon them in Tipu's capital at Seringapatam. As part of the settlement, Tipu Sultan's two sons, aged 8 and 10, were handed over to Cornwallis as hostages and held for over two years in Madras where they were treated with great kindness. The good reception given to the Mysore princes offered British painters and publicists an opportunity to praise British 'benevolence and conquest' and numerous paintings and engravings were made of the subject by artists including Robert Home, Arthur William Devis, Henry Singleton and Mather Brown. Peace was short lived and it was not long before a renewed attack was made on Tipu. The Fourth Mysore War was launched, resulting in the storming of Seringapatam on 4 May, 1799 led by General Baird. In the course of engagement, Tipu was killed.
The British public showed an intense interest in Tipu Sultan, 'The Tiger of Mysore' and a whole genre of literature and art developed about 'Tipoo the Tiger', including books for children. The Tiger-Organ, celebrated by Keats, has remained one of the most popular exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Although the present work would seem to represent the two sons of Tipu Sultan being surrendered to the British, there is as Mildred Archer has noted (see Literature) some indication that "Stothard seems to be confusing the surrender of the hostages in 1792 with the surrender to (General) Baird in 1799. The boys are young and leaving the zenana (women's quarters) with numerous ladies in flowing empire gowns weeping around them. The officer consoling them has an approximate likeness to Baird (certainly not to Allan) although, as we already know, Baird did not enter the palace". The engraving by Charles Turner published in 1800, was captioned: "As soon as the valour of the British troops and their allies had gained them possession of the town, Major Allen accompanied by two other officers, by the orders of Gnel. Baird, entered the Sultaun's (sic) Palace, with a flag of truce brought away and the two remaining sons of Tippoo Sahib and conducted them immediately to camp." The ages of the boys do not correspond to those of Abd ad-Khaliq and Mui'izz al-Din who were much older. Archer notes that it looks "as though Allan had gone back to the zenana and was talking to the younger sons." Whatever the inaccuracies, it is clear, that Stothard was attempting to depict with almost journalistic zeal "an event of great significance in the history of India" without adequate information. The news of Tipu Sultan's defeat on 3 May, 1799, would have reached England later that year, and the picture and print (published August 15, 1800) constitute one of the first representations of this important event.
The British public showed an intense interest in Tipu Sultan, 'The Tiger of Mysore' and a whole genre of literature and art developed about 'Tipoo the Tiger', including books for children. The Tiger-Organ, celebrated by Keats, has remained one of the most popular exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Although the present work would seem to represent the two sons of Tipu Sultan being surrendered to the British, there is as Mildred Archer has noted (see Literature) some indication that "Stothard seems to be confusing the surrender of the hostages in 1792 with the surrender to (General) Baird in 1799. The boys are young and leaving the zenana (women's quarters) with numerous ladies in flowing empire gowns weeping around them. The officer consoling them has an approximate likeness to Baird (certainly not to Allan) although, as we already know, Baird did not enter the palace". The engraving by Charles Turner published in 1800, was captioned: "As soon as the valour of the British troops and their allies had gained them possession of the town, Major Allen accompanied by two other officers, by the orders of Gnel. Baird, entered the Sultaun's (sic) Palace, with a flag of truce brought away and the two remaining sons of Tippoo Sahib and conducted them immediately to camp." The ages of the boys do not correspond to those of Abd ad-Khaliq and Mui'izz al-Din who were much older. Archer notes that it looks "as though Allan had gone back to the zenana and was talking to the younger sons." Whatever the inaccuracies, it is clear, that Stothard was attempting to depict with almost journalistic zeal "an event of great significance in the history of India" without adequate information. The news of Tipu Sultan's defeat on 3 May, 1799, would have reached England later that year, and the picture and print (published August 15, 1800) constitute one of the first representations of this important event.