ALFRED CROWDY LOVETT C.B.E (BRITISH 1862-1919): A HISTORICAL...

Hammer

£800

ALFRED CROWDY LOVETT C.B.E (BRITISH 1862-1919): A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT AND RARE TOPOGRAPHICAL WATERCOLOUR PAINTING ON PAPER DEPICTING A VIEW OF THE BRITISH IN INDIAN FORT GUARD AT THE FORT OF AHMEDNAGAR CIRCA 1880'S

The watercolour painting depictings soldiers of the 61st Gloucestershire Regiment at the entrace of the Fort. The soldiers are at ease, relaxing in various forms. One is reading, another smoking, conversing etc, while on eis on guard by the main gate. The paintings are in watercolour and signed and inscribed to verso in pencil. They are painted circa 1880's, when Lovett himself was stationed in Ahmednagar as a Lieutenant.

30cm x 22.5cm

Mounted 41cm x 30cm

The Ahmednagar fort is located close to Bhinegar Nala in the Mahazashtra State of India. The fort was the headquarters of the Ahmednagar Sultanate. In 1803 it was taken by the British and used as a prison during the Raj. Detainees included Jawahlal Nehru Abdul Kalam Azad, Sardar Patel and nine other members of the Indian National Congress. Nehru wrote his popular book 'The Discovery of India', while he was imprisoned there. Additionally, Maulana Abdul Azad wrote his acclaimed 'Ghubar-e-khatiz' which is considered as the best example of Epistolary Essays in Urdu literature. Hazakrushna Mahatab cimpiled three volumes of 'The History of Odisha in Odia'.

In the present day, the Fort is currently administered by the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.

Alfred Lovett was an army officer commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1883, and he was promoted through the ranks to Brigadier General. He was posted to India with his regiment as a lieutenant in 1883, initially in Karachi. He then moved to Poona, Ahmedmagar, Bombay and Narisabad. He commanded the 1st Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment with the BEF in 1914. He was appointed Brigade Commander in the First Division and made Companion of the Order of the Bath, and awarded CBE in 1919.

While in India, Lovett illustrated an important book written by Major Macmunn, 'Armies of India' published originally in London by A&C Black in 1911.

Lovett died from illness aged 57 years old and is buried in Scarborough Manor Road Cemetry, North Yorkshire.

He was a very talented artist, painting landscapes, Indian Army uniforms and soldiers and his work is held in the Royal Academy.

Provenance: British Private Collection.