English: "The Surrender of Two Sons of Tippoo Sultaun," a copy by a Persian artist of a painting by Henry Singleton

Source: http://search.sothebys.com/jsps/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?lot_id=4FGKJ (downloaded May 2005)

" THE SURRENDER OF TIPU'S TWO SONS AS HOSTAGES AFTER THE PAINTING BY HENRY SINGLETON, QAJAR, PERSIA, 19TH CENTURY. This intriguing painting by a Qajar artist after Henry Singleton's painting of The Surrender of the Two Sons of Tippoo Sultaun to Sir David Baird is similar in scale and execution to the previous lot in this sale. It would be possible to suggest that the court artist 'Abdullah may have painted all four paintings from this series by Henry Singleton, whilst only these two remain.

Henry Singleton was one of the artists still resident in Britain who benefitted from the British presence in India. Although his lack of knowledge regarding local dress demonstrates his ignorance in matters Indian, his paintings were highly acclaimed by the contemporary London art scene. His painting of The Hostages Presented by the Vackeel to Lord Cornwallis at an exhibition of the Royal Academy in 1793 brought him the following praise from an art critic, "It has in it a great deal of natural character. The timid appearance of the boys, with the cheering and the affectionate presentation of the hand in Lord Cornwallis, are simply told. The various passions that may be supposed to mark such a scene are delineated without any shew of effort. The whole composition does him credit." (Archer 1979, pl.335, p.422-424)."