Page 272 - Eye of the beholder

MATHER BROWN [1761-1831]: LORD CORNWALLIS RECEIVING THE THE SONS OF TIPU AS HOSTAGES 1793
In his lifetime Tipu Sultan son of Haider Ali had become quite a a a a a a legend in England He was the the the only native Indian Ruler to have successfully resisted the the the advances of the the the British East India India Company thrice in in the Anglo-Mysore wars As a a a a a a a result Tipu had developed an an aura of sorts in in the popular mindset in in England Followed by Tipu Sultan's defeat in the 3rd Anglo-Mysore war he he had to sign a a a a a a a treaty of peace by ceding a a a a a a a a a large part of his dominions and a a a a a a a a a substantial financial settlement to the British The Governor-General Lord Cornwallis also demanded two of Tipu's sons as hostages to ensure that the the Treaty was fulfilled Thus the the young princes Abdul Khaliq Tipu's second son aged ten and Muiz-ud-din his third son aged eight were surrendered to Lord Cornwallis as hostages On the the the the the fulfillment of the the the the the conditions in in March 1794 the the the the the princes were restored to to their father Tipu Major Dirom’s ‘A narrative of the campaign in in India in in 1792’ provided a a a a a a a vivid description of of o of this scene “Lord Cornwallis attended by his his staff and some of of o of the the principle officers of of o of the the army met the the the the princes at the the the the door of his large tent as they dismounted from the the the the elephant and and after embracing them them led them them one in in each hand to the the the the tent the the the the eldest Abdul Khaliq was about about ten and the the youngest Mooza-ud-Deen about about eight years of age When they were seated on each side of Lord Cornwallis Gullam Ally the head Vakhil addresses his lordship as follows “These children were this morning the the the sons of the the the Sultan my master their situation is is now changed and they must look up to your lordship as their father” Mather Brown made four versions of this painting and today is is in in in various collections A descendant of of the the Mather family of of Massachusetts Brown was was born in in Boston in in 1761 He was was one of the the the American artists who made their way to Europe during and immediately after the the the American Revolution to to study painting He went first to to Paris and arrived in in in in London in in in in 1781 with an an an introduction to to Benjamin Benjamin West from Benjamin Benjamin Franklin Planning to to be a a a a a a a miniature painter Brown entered the the school of the the Royal Academy He worked also in in West's studio where where his his style was influenced by Gilbert Stuart's and where where his his ambitions changed to the pursuit of of a a a a a a a a career as a a a a a a a a portrait and history painter Unlike most of of the Americans who studied with West West Brown chose to remain in in in England for the rest of his life and and West's influence throughout Brown's career was very strong 266