Indian Antiquary Vol 09

SR No.: 032501
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 398
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 125

APRIL, 1880.)
MISCELLANEA.
107
MISCELLANEA. JAMES WALES THE PAINTER.
Robert Mnbon appears to have been a good To the Editor, "Indian Antiquary." architectural draughtsman, as may be seen from SIR.-In the Indian Antiquary for February,
those of his sketches (such as Nos. 9 and 16) in page 52, there are several curious details regard
which buildings are introduced. ing the Indian career of James Wales, artist,
I have not been able to trace any reference to in connection with which the following additional
Mabon as yet, but doubtless a search in the Calcutta facts may possess some interest for your readers.
Gazettes for the years 1790-1800 would discover In Stanley's edition of Bryan's Biographical
some particulars of this English artist in India. and Critical Dictionary of Painters, it is stated in
The Governor General of India, Sir John Shore; the notice of Wales, written by Stanley, that he died
Jonathan Duncan, Governor of Bombay, and many at Bombay in November 1796, and the article
other well known names are among the subscribers also mentions that he "made all those splendid
to the book, which unfortunately bears no imprint drawings of the caves of Ellora and the plans whatever. which were, after his death, published by Thomas
The title page, which is engraved, was given. Daniell."
as stated by the author, in substitution for the In the well known work, Oriental Scenery, by T. 20th plate, promised in the proposals for publishand W. Daniell, there will be found twenty-four ing the work, and is thus described by Mabon :views of the mountains of Ellora and the Hindu
"I have introduced a Frontispiece to this work, Excavations, (or as we now call them, Rock-Cut
instead of the last mentioned subject in my temples) drawn by James Wales, and engraved un.
proposals :- In the Vignette of the Frontispiece, der the direction of Daniell.
the emblematical Figures are History directing It would appear, however, from a statement in the attention of Painting to Indian subjects, a the introduction to a small oblong quarto book part of one of which is represented on a Tablet, in the possession of the writer, entitled Sketches which she supports. I have given the Figure of illustrative of Oriental Manners and Customs by Painting, the attitude of striking the Rainbow with Robert Mabon, that Wales was assisted in his her pencil, to denote the Power which this art has arabæological undertakings by Mabon, who says in in giving a just representation of nature, and her his preface, dated Calcutta, Feburary 1st, 1797 : many varied Tints." The "Indian subject" on "The following sketches were made during my the tablet is an Elephant, with a howdah on its travels, while engaged in an arduous undertaking back, kneeling down. (which took me five years to accomplish, for a The following brief epitome of the contents of Mr. Wales, lately deceased ;) viz:-Oriental Anti- this book will, it is hoped, prove of interest, as this quities, or Drawings of all the excavated Hindoo volume is, it is believed, the earliest published collecTemples in India, particularly those at Ellora, tion of authentic plates illustrating the manners near Aurangabad, Ekvera, near Poons, and those and customs of the natives of any part of India, on the Islands of Elephanta, and Salsette, near The Calcutta edition of Balthasar Solvyn's plates, Bombay."
illustrating the manners and customs of the Hin"Being requested by a few Friends to favor doos, was not published till 1799, although the them with Drawings illustrative of the Manners prospectus or proposal for publishing them will and Customs of the Asiaticks, to send to their be found in the Calcutta Gazette for 6th February Relations, who had never been in India, I con- 1794. The better known French edition of Solvyn cluded a small Pocket Volume, containing Twenty appeared in Paris in 1808, in 4. volumes, atlas sketches, would be very acceptable to them, and folio, the publishing price being 100 guineas the the Public in general, and accordingly published set. my Proposals for the present Work."
Plate I.-The manner of crossing the river at "I return the respectable few, whose Names Wanker, near Poona, during the monsoon. are here annexed, my grateful thanks, for the Seated on a trunk, on the top of a raft formed readiness they bave shown to encourage the under of "calibashes" lashed together, is an officer taking; and sincerely wish it may answer their dressed in uniform; three natives swimming by expectations on the subject."
the side of the raft are urging it over a river. The plates, 19 in number, are hand-coloured "In the background I have introduced coolies engravings, of considerable merit, each plate being with his baggage; distant from these, his bearers accompanied by an interesting letter press de- and palankeen, floating in the same manner. scription, full of allusions to "the Archæological Since the year 1793, this mode of crossing the river Survey" work on which the artist was engaged. has been discontinued, on account of accidents