James Hunter (military artist) explained

James Hunter
Birth Date:15 November 1755
Death Place:Vellore, Arcot, Carnatic Sultanate
Nationality:English
Known For:Paintings of South India
Notable Works:A Brief history of ancient and modern India embellished with coloured engravings
Module:
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Rank:Lieutenant
Branch Label:Service
Battles Label:Battle

James Hunter (1755–1792) served as a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in British India, serving under Marquess Cornwallis. Hunter worked as a military artist, and his sketches portray aspects of military and everyday life. Hunter took part in Tippu Sultan campaigns and other military campaigns in South India. His paintings provide a picture of late-18th-century life in South India.

Hunter has sketched different landscapes of South India, including Bangalore, Mysore, Hosur, Kancheepuram, Madras, Arcot, and Sriperumbadur. These paintings were published as the third section of A Brief history of ancient and modern India embellished with coloured engravings published by Edward Orme (London) between 1802 and 1805, as Picturesque Views in the Kingdom of Mysore published in 1804.[1] [2] [3]

James Hunter, with the Royal Artillery in India

In 1791, a detachment of volunteers was raised from the Royal Artillery battalions for serving in British India. Two companies were created with a major, adjutant and quarter-master, along with the men. The commanding officer was Major David Scott. Lt. James Hunter, along with Captain T. Ross and Lieutenants R. Clarke, C. Gold and W. Nicolay were the sub-ordinate officers. Leaving Woolwich in early 1791, they arrived at Madras in October 1791.

These two companies served under Lord Cornwallis in the Tippu Sultan campaigns, leading to the defeat and siege of Tippu's army at Seringapatam in 1792. Major Scott was killed on 9 February 1792, during the campaign. After a peace treaty was signed with Tippu Sultan, Lt James Hunter, with the assistance of Lt C. Gold made sketches of life in India and objects and buildings who attracted their attention. These sketches were published by C. Gold with the title Oriental Drawings and attracted much attention in England as they were considered as valuable addition to British understanding of Indian culture. Lt. Hunter died on 18 May 1791 (p. 78).[4]

James Hunter Memorial

James Hunter is buried at the Old Cemetery at Vellore, near Commissary Bazar, North Arcot District. The memorial monument raised by his brother Arthur Hunter, records his birth day as 15 November 1755 and death day as 19 May 1792. As recorded in 1946, a giant banyan tree had fallen on the memorial (pg.4).[5]

Views of Bangalore

Bangalore was first recorded in paintings in the 17th century by European artists, who travelled the South India extensively. One such artist was James Hunter, who sketched extensively on the views of Mysore and the wars with Tippu Sultan. After his death in 1792, Joseph C. Stadler, J. B. Harraden and H. Merke took up the work of 'aquatint etching' of the paintings on copper plates. Forty of Hunter's paintings were published in London in 1804, by Edward Orme, under the title Picturesque scenery in the Kingdom of Mysore. In comparison to the work of Robert Home, Lt. R. H. Colebroke Capt. Allan, Hunter's work are associated often with Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali and depicts the military and civil life of Bangalore in the late 18th century.[6]

Sketches of Bangalore Fort

See main article: Bangalore Fort.

Sketches of Tipu Summer Palace, Bangalore

See main article: Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace.

Sketches of Hosur

See main article: Hosur.

Sketches of Krishnagiri Fort

See main article: Krishnagiri Fort.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ebinesan. J. James Hunter's Bangalore. 24 June 2016. 2006.
  2. News: Paintings of Tipu's death & Hindu temple for auction at UK. 24 June 2016. Bangalore First. 12 September 2012.
  3. Web site: Tomb of a 'Killadar' (governor of a fort) Ouscottah (Mysore). British Library. 24 June 2016. 26 March 2009.
  4. Book: Browne. James Alexander. England's Artillerymen: An Historical Narrative of the Services of the Royal Artillery, from the Formation of the Regiment to the Amalgamation of the Royal and Indian Artilleries in 1862. 1865. Hall, Smart and Allen. London. 330. 9780947487966. 24 June 2016.
  5. Book: Cotton. Julian James. Baliga. B S. List Of Inscriptions On Tombs Or Monuments Madras: Possessing Historical or Archaeological Interest – Volume II. 1946. Government Press. Madras, British India. 24 June 2016.
  6. Web site: Six Views of Bangalore – 1791 AD by James Hunter. Dukan. 24 June 2016. 2011.