A Group of Eastern Figures sitting and standing at the entrance to a Tent, with encampment in background
Watercolour
1819 (painted)
1819 (painted)
| Artist/Maker |
This is probably an illustration to an oriental tale or poem, but the subject has not yet been identified. The men at the entrance to the tent appear to be parleying or striking a bargain over something. Their costumes and weaponry are predominantly lndo-Persian. but the scene is more fanciful than authentic, and creates an opportunity for a display of colourful and exotic objects. Heath, as 'Paul Pry', was one of the most successful caricaturists of the Regency era. He is best known for his illustrations to the early work of Charles Dickens. His illustrations to other authors included military subjects, some with a vaguely oriental veneer, such as those to his own poem The Life of a Soldier (1823).
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | A Group of Eastern Figures sitting and standing at the entrance to a Tent, with encampment in background (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Water- and bodycolour with gum over pencil |
| Brief description | Watercolour, A Group of Eastern Figures sitting and standing at the entrance to a Tent, with encampment in background, 1819, by William Heath (pseudonym 'Paul Pry') |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed and dated William Heath 1819 |
| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A |
| Object history | According to Rodney Searight: - `Bt. fr. Appleby Bros. Ltd., July 1966, £31.10'. [10 shillings] |
| Historical context | For possible interpretations of the subject, see Searight Archive. The costumes are very fanciful. |
| Summary | This is probably an illustration to an oriental tale or poem, but the subject has not yet been identified. The men at the entrance to the tent appear to be parleying or striking a bargain over something. Their costumes and weaponry are predominantly lndo-Persian. but the scene is more fanciful than authentic, and creates an opportunity for a display of colourful and exotic objects. Heath, as 'Paul Pry', was one of the most successful caricaturists of the Regency era. He is best known for his illustrations to the early work of Charles Dickens. His illustrations to other authors included military subjects, some with a vaguely oriental veneer, such as those to his own poem The Life of a Soldier (1823). |
| Bibliographic reference | Searight, Rodney. The Middle East : watercolours and drawings by British and foreign artists and travellers, 1750-1900, from the collection of Rodney Searight, Esq. London, 1971 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | SD.500 |
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| Record created | February 8, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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