Question
In what way did the British history paintings in India reflect the attitudes of imperial conquerors?
Solution
History painting sought to dramatise and recreate various episodes of British imperial history, and enjoyed great prestige and popularity during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
The British history paintings celebrated the British and their power and victories. Francis Hayman, in 1762, produced a history painting and placed on public display in the Vauxhall Gardens in London. The British defeated Sirajuddaulah in the famous Battle of Plassey and installed Mir Jafar as the Nawab of Murshidabad. This event was painted by Hayman in a way that made it clear that the British were more powerful than the Indians.
