Set of Two Views of Chowringhee Road

a) William Wood
Chowringhee Road
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Without mount: 10 x 14.3 in (25.5 x 36.5 cm)
With mount: 14.9 x 20.4 in (38 x 52 cm)

One of the three sizable man-made reservoirs in the Chowringhee neighbourhood of Kolkata was known as the General's Tank. It was located immediately south of Park Street's intersection. The home of Thomas Babington Macauley, a law member of the Supreme Council of India who worked on the reform of the Indian legal system made necessary by the New India Act of 1834, is also depicted in this print. In 1834-1838, he resided at 33 Chowringhee Road. After that, the structure housed the Bengal Club's main office.

This lithograph is from plate 16 of William Wood's Views of Calcutta published in 1833.

b) William Wood
Chowringhee Road
1833
Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Without mount: 10.2 x 14.1 in (26 x 36 cm)
With mount: 14.9 x 20.4 in (38 x 52 cm)

Wood's panorama, which was a moving viewpoint in contrast to later printed and photographic panoramas, provided an accurate view of the areas of Calcutta that gave rise to the moniker "City of Palaces". The elegant forms of European Calcutta's buildings presaged a significant turning point in the subcontinent's architectural history: the transformation of Western designs into forms that would eventually become standard in Indian architecture. The building pictured exemplifies what eventually became the standard design: a block of two or three stories, properly proportioned, situated in a garden, and with columned verandahs to shield the rooms from the sun. The buildings owned by Ballard, which were located at the intersection of Theatre Road and Chowringhee Road at numbers 47, 48, 49, and 50, are no longer standing.

This lithograph is from plate 23 of William Wood's Views of Calcutta published in 1833.

(Set of two)

These works will be shipped unframed

NON-EXPORTABLE

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