Line of March in India

These five watercolour on paper paintings show a Line Of March in India.

The March is likely to be civilian rather than military although some uniformed men with rifles are shown. The first illustration shows the column headed by a European couple on horseback followed by a horse drawn buggy being led; there follows a palanquin with what looks to be a child and then some bullocks with a driver. The second sheet shows a bullock wagon with a roped canvas covering the contents followed by the uniformed men carrying rifles and leading a man with his wrists tied by rope. Two other men in the group have their wrists tied behind their backs; another canvas covered bullock cart with pots to the top follows. The third watercolour shows another bullock cart which is also covered but has a chair on top of it; dogs follow before another cart carrying bottles and a third covered with a monkey sat to the back. The fourth picture shows four elephants followed by a horse drawn cart inscribed 'BEER' and laden with furniture including a chair and table. The fifth and final section of this Line Of March shows another furniture wagon pulled by bullocks followed by two more carts with lashed canvas; a donkey drawn buggy with a European couple and a servant bring up the rear.

This Line of March bears similarities to the two published panoramas 'Bengal Troops on the Line of March' by Captain Ludlow of 1830 and the Line of March of a Bengal Regiment of Infantry published by Ackerman & Co. in 1843 after drawings by Lieutenant F. P. Layard. Although this panorama is not as long as the other two, the artist is hoping to show how much was commonly taken by Europeans as they moved about India. The presence of furniture on the wagons suggests that they were either setting up camp during their journey or were travelling to the hills for the hot season. Circa 1880.

Framed size is given.

One of a group of amateur watercolours showing the English in India at Field Sports and on a Line of March. Some of the paintings have been done with a quick hand to capture the moment whilst others are a little more considered. For instance, many of the Europeans are wearing Pith Helmets but they are drawn so quickly that their true shape is not shown. Three small pictures of Pig Sticking, framed together, are dated 1877 and others are dated 1880 and 1881.

They all look to have been framed at a later date, with evidence to the back of one dating the framing to 1923. Before they were framed, it can be seen that most had been folded and some have damage to the paper edges etc. It seems that nearly 50 years after they were painted, the paintings were reconsidered and framed, perhaps by a relative. Watercolour sketches that were done for amusement or as a memory were re-evaluated and seen with a different eye. They are evocative of an age gone by and interesting to us as some show furniture being transported.