Indian watercolours--Tanjore School.

4to (230 x 180mm.), 91 watercolours on paper (watermarked 1831), heightened with gum arabic, each framed within a pen and ink border, nearly all captioned in English in pencil at the foot of each sheet, modern red crushed half morocco gilt over patterned fabric boards, flat spine tooled in gilt, gilt edges, morocco and fabric pastedowns, titled in gilt as above on upper pastedown, the album and its nineteenth-century binding (rebacked) preserved within a modern red morocco-backed watered-silk clamshell box, spine lettered in gilt as above

Possibly commissioned by Sir Robert Henry Dick (1786-1846), who was born in Calcutta and entered the British army in 1800. His early career included service in Sicily, Egypt, Portugal and Flanders and he distinguished himself at the battles of Quatre Bras, and Waterloo. In 1837, he was promoted major-general, and from 1841-1842 was acting commander in chief at Madras. In 1846, he assumed command of the Third Infantry Division in the Sikh War. He fell while leading a second charge against Sikh entrenchments at Sobraon.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A splendid album of fine Tanjore paintings of the 1830s including some interesting and rare group portraits, together with scenes of hunting, castes, trades, occupations, ceremonies and deities. The Tanjore artists possessed a delicate and realistic style that was unrivalled in any other school of Company Painting and the exquisite watercolours in this album clearly demonstrate their skill. One of the paintings depicts an English officer in military uniform reclining while being carried in a palanquin and the officer is identified in the caption beneath as Sir Robert Dick (see provenance).