Lot 1226
JOSE M GONSALVES (Fl.c.1826-1842)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, FORT BOMBAY; VIEW OF COLABA; VIEW OF MAZAGON; MARINE BATTALION. ESPLANADE; NATIVE SCHOOL AND RACKET COURT
The scarce set of five lithographs, printed by the General Lithographic Press, c.1826
Each 20.5 x 35cm approx. (5)
* Gonsalves was a fairly minor Goanese artist but he was apparently the official artist on Captain Sir Alexander Burnes's mission to Kabul in 1836-38. In his account of the mission, Burnes wrote approvingly, "altogether Don Jose Gonsalves was a very original character, and a vast favourite with us: all during the day he laboured with industry and attention at his proper calling of draftsman; and when invited to join us after dinner, never failed to enliven the evening." The introduction of lithography reduced considerably the cost of illustrated book production and in 1826, Robert MacDowall (appointed superintendent of the lithographic office in Bombay in 1824), produced plans for the enlargement of the Government Lithographic Office.
