Emily Eden

Born into a family of aristocrats Emily Eden was a reputed poet, novelist and artist from London. Eden, along with her sister, accompanied their brother, Lord George Auckland, to India who was appointed as Governor-General from 1835-42. His position required him to participate in many social activities and by extension, his sisters. Eden was not too fond of her life in Calcutta and was soon delighted to embark on a two year old journey travelling through northern India.

The purpose of the visit was to impress the princely states with the might of British Imperialist power. They set about with an entourage having an elaborate pomp and show. She documents in detail the splendor of the occasions of a noble life when Lord Auckland was invited to durbars held by the rajas and princes. Eden fine portraits and textual descriptions, however, also depict the hardship and struggle of Indian rulers and their families under Imperial rule because of so little power they had over their own life and kingdom. She was a shrewd political commentator and often penned voracious letters to assert her opinions. During her journey, she also documented her observations about life in the country through a series of widely detailed sketches. In 1844, a few years after her return to England, these drawings were published as a set of monochromatic and hand-painted lithographs titled Portraits of the Princes and people in India.