Ambassador of the King of Burma holding the hand of Major Phayre
Painting
ca.1854 (made)
ca.1854 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of three paintings (IS.179-1950, IS.180-1950) which illustrate the visit of the Burmese King Mindon's envoy to Calcutta in 1854.
At the end of 1854, following the second Anglo-Burmese war of 1852, after which southern Burma fell to British rule, the Burmese King, Mindon Min (r. 1853-1878) sent his ambassador Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi on an embassy of good will from his court at Amarapura to Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, in Calcutta. Sir Arthur Phayre, Commissioner of British Burma, accompanied the mission and acted as interpreter.
These three watercolours which were presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum by the great niece of Sir Arthur Phayre allow us to witness the pomp with which Burmese ministers travelled, through the eyes of a Burmese court artist who accompanied the mission.
At his second meeting in Calcutta, the ambassador, shown with his entourage carrying his swords, gold umbrellas and receptacles of rank, is seen strolling hand in hand with Phayre. He is portrayed in his elaborate and distinctive military court dress worn with a shweipei hkamauk (helmet) and a mauk-yu (skullcap), on this occasion wearing shoes with his pahsoe (type of sarong) drawn up to resemble breeches. This was one of two sets of robes (one civil and one military) which would have been presented to him, following his appointment, to indicate his rank.
At the end of 1854, following the second Anglo-Burmese war of 1852, after which southern Burma fell to British rule, the Burmese King, Mindon Min (r. 1853-1878) sent his ambassador Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi on an embassy of good will from his court at Amarapura to Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, in Calcutta. Sir Arthur Phayre, Commissioner of British Burma, accompanied the mission and acted as interpreter.
These three watercolours which were presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum by the great niece of Sir Arthur Phayre allow us to witness the pomp with which Burmese ministers travelled, through the eyes of a Burmese court artist who accompanied the mission.
At his second meeting in Calcutta, the ambassador, shown with his entourage carrying his swords, gold umbrellas and receptacles of rank, is seen strolling hand in hand with Phayre. He is portrayed in his elaborate and distinctive military court dress worn with a shweipei hkamauk (helmet) and a mauk-yu (skullcap), on this occasion wearing shoes with his pahsoe (type of sarong) drawn up to resemble breeches. This was one of two sets of robes (one civil and one military) which would have been presented to him, following his appointment, to indicate his rank.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ambassador of the King of Burma holding the hand of Major Phayre (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting; gouache on paper with gold high lights, the visit of the Burmese King Mindon's envoy to Calcutta in 1854, By an unknown artist but one who is believed to have been Burmese, Burma ca.1854 |
| Physical description | Sir Arthur Phayre is depicted holding the hand of the Burmese envoy. On the left and right (depicted in smaller scale indicating their lesser rank) members' of the Burmese entourage are shown kneeling holding the ambassador's umbrellas, swords and receptacles of rank. The Queen's Ambassador is depicted again with his many chained salwe (chain of honour) but this time in his elaborate military court costume. Consisting of a waisted gold embroidered watlum (robe) worn over a pah-soe (type of sarong) which has been drawn up in front to resemble breeches together with a brimmed golden helmet with a spire like ornament and ear flaps. Inscribed at the top in Burmese characters: Arrived in Calcutta on Tuesday 9th waxing moon of Nadaw (December) 1216 [Burmese era] (1854) Picture of his exalted Majesty and Lord of the Rising Sun Ashinbawashin Mindayagipaya's (King Mindon's) ambassador Ashin Nanmadam Payawan Mingyi and the administrator of Pegu Province Arate Barwi Phwayyar [Arthur Purves Phayre]. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Arrived in Calcutta on Tuesday 9th waxing moon of Nadaw 1216 [Burmese era] picture of his exalted Majesty and Lord of the Rising Sun Ashinbawashin Mindayagyipaya's ambassador Ashin Nanmadam Payawan Mingyi and the administrator of Pegu Province Arate Barwi Phwayyar [Arthur Purves Phayre] ' (Inscribed at top in Burmese characters:) |
| Object history | Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi was the chief queen's ambassador. Comment made by visitors (Professors of History and Libraries) from Rangoon University, Burma, Sept. 1988 |
| Production | Although the artist of these three paintings (see also Museum nos. IS.179-1950 and IS.180-1950) is unknown, Noel Singer in 2002 states that they are without doubt the work of a Burmese panchee-daw (court artist) who was probably taken on the mission to Calcutta in 1854. Mildred Archer in "Company Paintings" (see Ref. below) was also of the opinion that they were executed by a Burmese artist. Previously considered illustrations recording Sir Arthur Phayre's mission to Mandalay in 1855. When Mildred Archer had the Burmese inscriptions above the paintings translated by U Tin Pe of the Burmese Embassy in London they were re-attributed to the earlier mission in December 1854 led by the Chief Queen's Ambassador Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi from the Court of Mindon to Calcutta. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of three paintings (IS.179-1950, IS.180-1950) which illustrate the visit of the Burmese King Mindon's envoy to Calcutta in 1854. At the end of 1854, following the second Anglo-Burmese war of 1852, after which southern Burma fell to British rule, the Burmese King, Mindon Min (r. 1853-1878) sent his ambassador Ashin Nanmadaw Payawun Mingyi on an embassy of good will from his court at Amarapura to Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, in Calcutta. Sir Arthur Phayre, Commissioner of British Burma, accompanied the mission and acted as interpreter. These three watercolours which were presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum by the great niece of Sir Arthur Phayre allow us to witness the pomp with which Burmese ministers travelled, through the eyes of a Burmese court artist who accompanied the mission. At his second meeting in Calcutta, the ambassador, shown with his entourage carrying his swords, gold umbrellas and receptacles of rank, is seen strolling hand in hand with Phayre. He is portrayed in his elaborate and distinctive military court dress worn with a shweipei hkamauk (helmet) and a mauk-yu (skullcap), on this occasion wearing shoes with his pahsoe (type of sarong) drawn up to resemble breeches. This was one of two sets of robes (one civil and one military) which would have been presented to him, following his appointment, to indicate his rank. |
| 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 182 p. ISBN 0944142303 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.181-1950 |
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| Record created | September 5, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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