Lot No. 6: HOME, ROBERT

HOME, ROBERT

SELECT VIEWS IN MYSORE

First edition

Year: 1794

Size: 35 x 28.3 cm (13.7 x 11 inches)

Published by: Mr. Bowyer, the letter-press by T. Bensley 1794. Small Folio (340 x 265 mm). Text in English and Perso-Arabic script. Early half calf over hand marbled boards. Fine clean copy.

No. of Illustrations: 29 Copper-Engraved Plates by Fittler, Byrne and others After Robert Home
4 Folding Maps and Plans (One Hand-coloured).

Fine copy of the first edition of this early view book of India, recalling the power struggles which led to the British dominance of India in the 19th century.

Home was subsequently worked as a portrait painter in Dublin, before returning to London in 1789. Home's career took on a spectacular new direction with his departure for India in 1790. He established a highly successful portrait practice and worked mainly in Madras, Calcutta and Lucknow. He was also a very active water-colorist.
A collection of his studies of wild life are now in the Victoria Memorial Hall in Calcutta, but it is his landscape work which is the basis for the present work.

Home had arrived in India during what has become known as the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1789- 92) and it is not unlikely that he left England with a commission from Bowyer to record the scenes of the action. The war took place in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the English East India Company.

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Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman