Lot Essay
Hubert Vos was born in Holland, studied in Brussels and Paris and moved to the United States, which became his adoptive country. He became fascinated with the native races of the world and travelled round the world portraying various racial types. He completed about forty portraits, which were exhibited in New York, Washington D.C. and Paris. Vos's portrait of the khattack and the following lot were executed while the artist was in Hong Kong, from subjects chosen from the British-Indian army units stationed there.
In a letter, dated October 9, 1911, Vos wrote: 'The British-Indian regiments were mustered out in their native dress for my inspection and instruction, and the types I selected were ordered by His Excell. the Governor to pose for me in my temporary Studio in the Hong Kong Hotel...I ...found there my two types of the Himalaya mountain races, the 'Punjab' and the 'Kattack''.
In a letter, dated October 9, 1911, Vos wrote: 'The British-Indian regiments were mustered out in their native dress for my inspection and instruction, and the types I selected were ordered by His Excell. the Governor to pose for me in my temporary Studio in the Hong Kong Hotel...I ...found there my two types of the Himalaya mountain races, the 'Punjab' and the 'Kattack''.