 |
|
his improving and educational toy illustrates British
military achievements from 1793-1815, including the Battle
of Bunkers Hill, the Death of Abercrombie, the Battle of
Waterloo and the 'Death of Tippoo
Saib at Seringapatam 4th May 1799'. It was found among
the nursery toys at Blair
Castle in Perthshire.
Once again the market clamoured for images of Mysore, and
authentic detail was sacrificed
to dramatic impact and speed of production. In many of the
cheapest prints, including The Stationers' Almanac of 1801,
and the 'penny plain, tuppence coloured' prints of Laurie
and Whittle or Basire, the utter lack of authenticity resulted
in near-comical images. In one, Lord Mornington - with no
mention of Baird or Harris! -is apparently leading the attack
on a Chinese pagoda, which represents Seringapatam. In others,
including prints of contemporary spectacles
on stage, the Indian figures might have been taken from
a pantomime of The Arabian Nights.
Slightly more sophisticated, but no less dramatic, are the
versions which appear as Canon's Military Records, or in
Regimental histories, and on this jigsaw puzzle. The Tipu
story also found its way into the schoolroom, on sheets
for writing exercices. These have a framed image top and
bottom, joined, left and right, by two vertical bands of
smaller images. An example in a Scottish private collection
includes a cheerfully imaginary 'Storming of Seringapatam,'
with the central space framed by thumbnail, hack prints
of the British Commanders Stuart and Harris; the Discovery
of Tipu's body; and the Surrender of his Sons; A Sepoy and
an Indian Soldier; Tipu and his 'Sultana.' Amidst this stirring
imagery, John Hatton inscribed and signed his writing exercice:
'Prescot School, June 12th 1801.'
|
No comments:
Post a Comment