Bengal Army Troops, 1785 (c)

Watercolour on European paper, by a Company artist, 1785 (c).

This early painting is typical in showing examples of different ranks and regiments in the Bengal Army: a golandaz (artillery private), a sepoy (infantry private) and a subadar (a senior Indian officer). The style is designed to appeal to European taste with an exotic, picturesque background painted with thin watercolour washes.