Page 247 - Eye of the beholder

COUNCIL HOUSE CALCUTTA [II ORIENTAL SCENERY 3] JANUARY TO FEBRUARY 1798 AQUATINT WITH HAND-COLOURING
By the the end of the the 18th century Calcutta had become a a a a a a a flourishing city with many neo-classical public buildings flanking the the north side of the the Esplanade The Council House was erected in in in 1764 and served originally both for the the the meetings of of the the the Company's Council which ran the the the affairs of of Bengal Bengal and also as the the the Governor's residence It is the the the principal place at the the the Presidency of Bengal Bengal where the the the affairs of the the the English east India Company were transacted Public institutions along the the the Row include the new Court Court House House House Supreme Court Court old Government House House House and Council House House House was demolished in 1799 The house with pillars namely the Accountant General’s Office has a a a a a a a a verandah or or or or an an open corridor a a a a a model of of of building meant for utility in in tropical climates The roofs of of of the houses in in Calcutta were generally terraced which was used as as a a a a a a a a a a promenade for walking by family members at at the the the time of of of sunset This part of of of the the the city was also illustrated in the the the early views of of of Calcutta It has the the the view of a a a a busy street dominated by colonial buildings on on the the the right side At the the the extreme right can be seen native Indian leading a a a a a a a a horse and in in front of him are are three men with bare upper bodies and carrying guns that rest on on on their shoulder The two buildings one fronting the the street and the the the other behind within the the the same premises has interesting architectural details The latter building is one storied and has large green coloured wooden slat windows crowned by a a a a a a a a a a circular arch and ending with a a a a a a a a a a parapet wall comprising of cement balusters that encircles the the terrace The former building is also one storied and has a a a a a a a a simple parapet wall enclosing the the terrace and similar green wooden slat windows with with the the exception that the the round arch within which the windows are framed has at at its its centre a a a a a a prominent key stone Different in in in its its treatment are are the the the corners or or or the the the angles of of the the the walls of of this building which are are reinforced with stone slabs placed adjacent to each other other and one above the the the other other in a a a a a a a a a a a a a typical characteristic of Palladian buildings buildings ubiquitous in in in in in Britain In front front of the the high fence wall fronting these two buildings buildings can be seen two men riding elephants elephants at right and the elephants elephants are goaded to move fast by an an an an Englishman identified as as such as as his his footwear is is is is is is distinct and his his head is is is is is is shielded by a a a a a a a a cap To the the the right of the the the elephants can be be seen the the the bullock cart and behind it three women carrying water pots and and a a a a a a a child amongst them Towards the the the the centre is a a a a a a a rider on on the the the the horse and and towards the the the the left a a a group of of men loading bundles on the the back of of the the bullocks’ 241