“Two sailors are bargaining with a scantily clad Indian girl with a basket of fruit. Although pineapples were luxury goods at this time, the mirror, and in particular the watch offered by the seaman on the left represent a disproportionately high price for the fruit. The girl’s hairstyle resembles a pineapple reinforcing the point that she is the object of their attention rather than her wares. The two men are dressed in their shore-going clothes with buckled shoes and silk stockings. They wear baggy cotton trousers and short jackets. The sleeve of the left-hand sailor has a mariner’s cuff outlined in white piping and his wool jacket has metal buttons, which are probably made of brass. He wears a straw hat and his hair is done in a pigtail or queue. Both men have large silk neckerchiefs probably originating in India. Sailor’s dress was much the same in the merchant service and the navy. There was no uniform for the lower ranks at this time.”–Collections online, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
- Printmaker: Knight, Charles, 1743-1827?, printmaker.
- Title: Scarcity in India [graphic] / painted by H. Singleton ; engraved by C. Knight.
- Publication: [London] : Published Jan. 1st, 1794, by C. Knight at Wm. Bonds, No. 98 Charlotte Street, Rathbone Place, London, [1 January 1794]
794.01.01.11++
Acquired April 2023
Ten hand-colored engravings, depicting scenes from the Battle of Seringapatnam, form the border of a writing sheet, one each along the upper and lower edges and four on either side. Illustrations include, at the top, a battle scene; portraits of the British generals, Harris and Stuart; Tippoo Saib discovered among the slain, Tippoo’s sons surrender; A sepoy upon a charge, An Indian soldier; Tippoo Sultan, Tippoo Sultan’s wife; a design with flags, drums, cannons, swords and bugles. The battle scene and the image with the two sons include images of elephants.
