Portrait of Charles and John Sealy
Maker
(Artists)
1735-1786
1735-1786
Title
Portrait of Charles and John Sealy
Date of Production
1773
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height: 233.2 cm (canvas)
Width: 142.5 cm (canvas)
Width: 142.5 cm (canvas)
Accession Number
P.1947.LF.205
Mode of Acquisition
Arthur Hamilton Lee, bequest, 1947
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
On display
Keywords
Label Text
This portrait was painted in the Indian port-city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1773. Charles Sealy (on the left) worked there in the judicial court established by the East India Company. His brother John was captain of one of the Company’s ships, the Northington. This powerful private company made its fortune by trading spices, cotton, silk and tea. It relied on forced labour and also carried enslaved people from Africa to Asia. By the 18th century, it had effectively become the colonial ruler of large parts of the Indian subcontinent. The brothers were painted by Tilly Kettle, the first professional British artist established in India, during one of John’s visits to Calcutta. The portrait follows the traditional poses and format designed to show English gentlemen on their estates. Here, only the palm trees hint at the Indian setting.
Provenance
Lee Bequest 1947
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