Emily Eden, the elder of the two sisters who accompanied their brother, George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, when he assumed office as the Governor-General of India in 1836, was deeply struck by the stark contrast between life in England and the grandeur of British rule in India. From the moment of their arrival, she noted a "total change from the life they had been used to," as the ceremonial reception and the opulence of their new surroundings overwhelmed her.
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| Ms. Emily Eden, sister of Gov.Gen, Lord Auckland scroll.in |
The red-carpet welcome extended to Lord Auckland and his sisters left Emily astonished. The grandeur of Government House in Calcutta (now Kolkata) seemed almost surreal to her, prompting her to compare it to "a palace out of Arabian Nights." The sheer extravagance of the Governor-General’s household was unlike anything she had ever encountered in England. "Everything is so picturesque and so utterly un-English," she remarked, captivated by the vivid sights and elaborate customs of colonial India.
She was particularly fascinated by the retinue of servants that constantly surrounded them, catering to their every need with meticulous attention. Servants followed them wherever they went, awaiting instructions, and offering ceremonial salutes. Amused by the excessive deference shown to her brother, she noted, "He never stirs without a tail of joints after him," referring to the constant presence of aides and attendants. At first, this level of attention seemed overwhelming, but the siblings soon grew accustomed to the luxuries of their new station. Before long, Emily observed that Lord Auckland himself had fully embraced his role. However, it did not take long for them to become accustomed to all the attention, and Emily soon recorded that for his part the Governor-General was "as happy as a king".
Beyond mere observation, Emily Eden was a talented artist who possessed a keen eye for detail. Throughout her years in India, she documented the landscapes, architecture, and people she encountered through a series of remarkable sketches and paintings. Her artistic legacy provides an invaluable visual record of 19th-century India, particularly its rulers, soldiers, and common folk. She portrayed Indian princes, noblewomen, soldiers, and attendants with a mixture of admiration and curiosity, capturing the diversity and richness of Indian society under British rule.
When Lord Auckland’s tenure came to an end, he and his sisters departed Calcutta in March 1842. A year later, Emily compiled a selection of her drawings into a folio volume titled Portraits of the Princes and Peoples of India. Published in 1843, this large-format book contained 24 plates, offering a unique and intimate glimpse into the people and customs of India as seen through the eyes of an Englishwoman. Today, except for one missing portrait, all of these works are preserved at the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata.
Emily Eden’s writings and illustrations remain a significant historical record, providing insight into the British colonial experience in India. Her observations, both critical and appreciative, paint a vivid picture of the contrast between British aristocratic life and the exotic, unfamiliar world of India. Through her exceptional artistic and literary talents she left behind a fascinating and invaluable documentation of an era defined by imperial grandeur, cultural encounters, and personal adaptation to a world far removed from her own. Ms. Emily recorded everything that took her fancy, leaving behind a legacy of splendid sketches and paintings of her alien experiences in India.
Incidentally the Famous Eden Gardens Cricket ground was part of the pleasure ground established by Lord Auckland. The garden was named after his sisters Emily and fanny Eden. But after the Cricket became a popular game the pace was more known as the Eden gardens cricket ground (stadium) then its original name.
The following are some of hand-painted works drawn on her trips to many places in the northern parts of India. Materials: Chromolithograph, hand painted on paper.
Artist: Emily Eden (British, 1797 - 1869)
Printer: Lowes Cato Dickenson (British, 1819 - 1908)
Publisher: J.Dickenson and Son (British)
Date: 1844
Ms. Emily's portraits can be seen at the Victoria Memorial collection. (https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99nov27/saturday/head11.html)
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| Raja of Putteealla (Patiala, India)searchcollection. asianart.org |
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| 1797 auctions.bidandhammer.com |
Above image: a) The Raja of Putteealla (Patiala, Punjab, India). On His State Elephant. (b) A Guard of the Rajah of Putteala and two of his Dwarfs. From the book India Portraits, Princess and Peoples of India published in London by J. Dikinson & Sons 1844 with 24 Lithographic plates
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| Ma. Emily's Portrait of an Indian camel rider India1.bp.blogspot.com |
Above image: The title of this work is an anglicized form of the Hindi term shutur-savar, meaning "camel rider." Emily Eden sketched the original drawing for this print in the city of Patna ( now capital of Bihar state )in northern India
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| Meeha (Mewar) Raja Hindoo Rao searchcollection.asianart.org |
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| A group of Tibet Tarters,searchcollection.asianart.org |
Above image: Emily Eden's travels were concentrated in the northern part of India, with some excursions into the Himalayan foothills, where she encountered several Tibetan people. She was staying at the famous hill station of Simla (in what is now Himachal Pradesh state) when she sketched this particular group. In the summer, when the mountain passes were clear, many Tibetans descended into the hill towns of India to barter animals and other goods for such necessities as cloth, grain, and salt. Europeans often referred to Tibetans as Tartars, a name derived from "Tatar," the Persian name for people of Mongol descent.
(https://searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/13572/group-of-tibet-tartars)
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| A young hill Rana, India.searchcollection.asianart.org |
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| Lord Auckland in darbar witha Raja searchcollection.asianart.org |
Above image: This print documents a formal meeting (durbar) between the governor- general and the Raja of Nahan (Nahun), ruler of a small kingdom in what is now Himachal Pradesh state. Lord Auckland is shown seated on a throne-like chair in the center of a row of other seated dignitaries. The raja is depicted to his right. Arrayed on the floor in front of them are various gifts offered to the governor-general.
Ref:
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