Henry Singleton first rose to prominence as a contemporary history painter in a family that was known best for their miniature artworks. Born into an artistic family, Henry Singleton was raised by uncle William Singleton who painted portraits and miniatures. Although he dabbled in miniatures as well, his well-known works were portraits and historic paintings.
Singleton, a frequent exhibitor in the Royal Academy of Art, was also commissioned by the Royal Academy to paint a group portrait of forty of the academicians.
The Royal Academicians in General Assembly (1795)
Oil on canvas.
78 in. x 102 in.
Source: Royal Academy of Arts Collection
His series of four large scale oil paintings depicting the war between the British and Tipu Sultan is one of his best historical works. Two engravings published by the London Printing and Publishing Company are being offered.
Engravings of all four paintings in the series by Henry Singleton
Source: Sotheby’s
The Last Effort and Fall of TipU Sultan is a popular image and is often synonymous with Singleton’s works.
The Last Effort and Fall by TipU Sultan (1800)
Oil on Canvas
40 in. x 50 in.
Source: Wikimedia commons
This hand engraving by Rogers, after a painting by Singleton, is a dramatic depiction of the East India Company’s final storming and capture of Seringapatam in 1799.
The fortified capital of Tipu Sultan, the then Mysore ruler, and bitter opponent of British imperialism were captured during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. In this image, both sides are seen in the middle of battle, with uniformed British soldiers charging at the Mysore army led by Tipu. Tipu’s fight to his death and the fall of Seringapatam would inspire several artists to create works celebrating this crucial victory by the British.
Figures that can be identified in this image are Sayd Shallie, Muhamed Cafsim, Sheer Cown, TipU Sultan, the soldier who killed TipU Sultan, Rajah Cown, Sayd Boodun, Sayd Achruff, and Captain Goodal 12th Regiment.
Underneath the main image is a smaller image that shows Tipu Sultan’s surrender to the British in 1792, when his two sons were taken hostage by Lieutenant-General Lord Cornwallis, Governor-General of India.
The Surrender of Two Sons of Tipu Sultan is another from the series by Henry Singleton. In this image, his son's - Abd al-Khaliq and Muizz al-Din can be seen presented to the British as his payment of reparations following the Treaty of Mysore. They were received into the personal care of Lord Cornwallis.
Figures that can be identified from this engraving are Officer of the artillery, Moize-ud-dien, Sultan Padshaw, Colonel Close, Aid-de-compt to Major General Baird, a person bearing Tippoo’s colors, Said Ameed, Abdul Wahab, Abdul Cawder, Sayd Mahamed Cawn, Major Agnew, Major General Baird, and Mojor Allen D.2. M.G.
Underneath the main image is a smaller image that shows an Attempt to Assassinate Lord Cornwallis, 1701.
Source: The British Museum Collection
A description key to two paintings by Henry Singleton notes the important figures in the two engravings. First, The Last Effort and Fall of Tipu Sultan; and second, The Surrender of the Two Sons of Tipu Sultan.
Comparable:
THE ASSAULT AND TAKING OF SERINGAPATAM; THE LAST EFFORTS AND FALL OF TIPU SULTAN; THE SURRENDER OF TWO SONS OF TIPU SULTAN; AND THE BODY OF TIPPOO SULTAUN RECOGNISED BY HIS FAMILY
AFTER HENRY SINGLETON (1766-1839)
20,400 GBP
Sotheby’s London
25 May 2005
