Picture Details
Hemp, watercolour on blue paper.
Partner:
Kew GardensImage reference:
ILLUS153.04/2.0Origin:
Indian SubcontinentArtist / Date:
Unknown, c.1800Donor / Date:
1919Size:
472 x 299 mmDescription:
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Kew holds a number of illustrations from India, painted on blue paper, featuring stylized plants, whose leaves and flowers seldom overlap. The labelling on these drawings is probably that of Francis Hamilton, (nee Buchanan, 1762-1829), who employed native artists while surveying the natural history of India in the early 1800's. It is difficult to say if he actually commissioned, or merely labelled these works on blue paper, but they are quite unlike any other drawings held in Kew's collections - seldom are botanical studies so modelled and arranged on the page. On handing over his position of Superintendent at the Botanic Gardens in Calcutta, Hamilton proposed to donate all of his drawings to the Court of Directors at India House in London. The Governor-General at Calcutta refused their removal, and after long arguments the drawings were finally released by the Government of Bengal after copies were made for the Calcutta Archive.
