FOUR PRINTS OF CALCUTTA

a) William Wood
Chowringhee Road
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Print size: 14.4 x 8.8 in (36 x 22 cm)
Sheet size: 15.2 x 10 in (38 x 25 cm)

This lithograph derives from plate 7 of William Wood's 'Views of Calcutta'. Wood produced 18 images of Chowringhee Road - now Jawaharlal Nehru Road - in Calcutta. This was the main north-south route through the city at the time, leading to Chitpore in the north and Chowringhee in the south. It ran two miles along the east side of the Maidan.

b) William Wood
The New General Hospital
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Print size: 14.4 x 8.8 in (36 x 22 cm)
Sheet size: 15.2 x 10 in (38 x 25 cm)

This lithograph is taken from plate 25 of William Wood's 'Views of Calcutta'. The General Hospital stood on the southern edge of the Calcutta Maidan facing Fort William. When Wood made his sketch in 1829, it was known as the New General Hospital and was built on the site of the old. It had been substantially enlarged in the 1820s)

c) William Wood
Kyderpoor Bridge
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Print size: 14.4 x 8.8 in (36 x 22 cm)
Sheet size: 15.2 x 10 in (38 x 25 cm)

This lithograph is taken from plate 26 of William Wood's 'Views of Calcutta'. The Kidderpore Bridge lay at the end of the course, the road that crossed the Maidan. It was built in 1826 and was the earliest stone-and-iron suspension bridge in India. Kidderpore, Alipore and Bhowanipore were three suburbs of Calcutta, south of the Maidan. They were set apart from it by the canal known as Tolly's Nullah (a canal), which necessitated the building of such bridges.

d) William Wood
The Fort
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Print size: 14.4 x 8.8 in (36 x 22 cm)
Sheet size: 15.2 x 10 in (38 x 25 cm)

This lithograph is taken from plate 27 of William Wood's 'Views of Calcutta'.,1833 Work began on Calcutta's new fort in October 1757 in Gobindpore, then a village south of the city. Designed by John Brohier, the fort was an irregular octagon with seven gates, surrounded by extensive defences. It was large enough to act as a refuge for Calcutta's entire population.

Above each of the gates was a residence for commanding officers. The towers in the print are those of the fort church of Saint Peter. The construction of the fort altered the entire urban plan of Calcutta and the city flourished and grew under its protective ramparts. Large areas of the jungle were cleared to provide a clear line of fire, and the resulting flat spaces were eventually filled by buildings.

(Set of four)

NON-EXPORTABLE

This lot will be sold in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of each print.