We specialise in fine arts, miniatures, water colours and oils.

Billing Antiques is a subsidiary of Chantry Fine Art.

MAJOR A C HUTCHINSON

INDIAN SCENES

1837

According to The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Reporter Major A.C. Hutchinson joined the Bengal Artillery as a cadet in 1830, rising to Major in 1856.

He was a keen amateur artist and filled an album with Indian sketches and all sorts of other views, figure studies and copies of well known works. Unfortunately, he did not discriminate between then, placing studies of goats next to drawings of pretty English women, or dashing indian soldiers.   Worse, he drew on both sides of each page.

The album was in very poor condition with much insect damage and not a few tears.   We have covered the wormholes and repaired tears as best we can.    We have also managed to single out some individual drawings to mount separately, some to mount showing drawings on both sides and have left entire pages where nothing could be extracted.    These have not been mounted and are photographed on both sides. 

Nevertheless the collection is extremely interesting and very worthwhile collecting.

Hutchinson signed his name on the first leaf, dating it 1837 and listing the place as Mussooree.   He also wrote a small poem on the album cover which states:

"Steal not this book for fear of shame,

For in't you'll find the owner's name,

And when you die the Lord will say,

Where is that book you stole away" 

This item shows on the front seven various Indian and classic figures, and on the reverse, not a bad amateur attempt at copying Ruben's famous picture The Descent from the Cross. 

There are three covered wormholes and two patches on cracks.

      This last series is of whole, unmounted, pages drawn on both sides. There are some wormholes.

 Size 10" x 7 1/2" (25cm x 18cm),