The Burmese Prime Minister
Painting
ca. 1826 (painted)
ca. 1826 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. An artist from Calcutta, who accompanied the British Commissioners to Malun, Burma, in 1825-1826, probably painted this one. They had gone there for a conference with the king and representatives of the Burmese government. War with Burma broke out in 1824 and dragged on until February 1826. This was when the Treaty of Yandaboo began the transfer of Burmese territories, which continued until 1886. The Governor-General, Lord Amherst, and the Burmese Kinwun Mingi (Prime Minister) attended the conference of Malun, which paved the way for this treaty.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Burmese Prime Minister (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting of the chief Burmese Minister at the conferences of Maloon, prior to the end of the 1st Anglo-Burmese War on 1 January 1826. Portrayed in his elaborate gold and plum coloured military court costume and helmet. Probably by a Calcutta artist attached to the British forces in Burma. Watercolour on paper. ca. 1826 |
| Physical description | The Burmese Prime Minister - sitting on a European style chair on a balustraded terrace overlooking the ?Irrawady and the hills beyond dotted with ?pagodas - is portrayed in his elaborate military court costume. Consisting of a gold embroidered plum coloured watlum (robe) over a draped pah-soe (type of sarong); a heavily gold embroidered cloud collar and breast plate; and a brimmed golden helmet with a spire like ornament and ear flaps. Inscribed on the back: "The Kalein-men-Woonghee [probably Kawlin Mingy, Chief negotiator for the Burmese government with the British, 1st Jan 1826] in the War dress of ceremony worn by him at the conferences of Malloon - Janry lst 1826". |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | The Kalein-men Woonghee in the War dress of ceremony by him at the conference of Mailoon - January 1st 1826. (Inscription; decoration; English; Roman; Reverse) |
| Credit line | Given by Lady Joan Amherst |
| Object history | Formerly in the collection of Lord Amherst (William Pitt) (Governor General, Port William. August 1823-March 1828), given by his descendant. |
| Production | This painting is unsigned. However, Mildred Archer in "Company Paintings" 1992 argues that it was painted by an Indian recording artist, probably from Calcutta, who accompanied the British forces to Burma at the time of the 1st Anglo-Burmese War in 1825-1826. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. An artist from Calcutta, who accompanied the British Commissioners to Malun, Burma, in 1825-1826, probably painted this one. They had gone there for a conference with the king and representatives of the Burmese government. War with Burma broke out in 1824 and dragged on until February 1826. This was when the Treaty of Yandaboo began the transfer of Burmese territories, which continued until 1886. The Governor-General, Lord Amherst, and the Burmese Kinwun Mingi (Prime Minister) attended the conference of Malun, which paved the way for this treaty. |
| Bibliographic reference | Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period
Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992, 102 p ISBN 0944142303
Sir Arthur P. Phayre,History of Burma1883 (reprint 1967) p. 255
J.J. Snodgrass: "Narrative of the Burmese War" (Murray) London 1827
W.S. Desai: "History of the British Residency in Burma, 1826-1840, Rangoon, 1939 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.58-1964 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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