Garden overlooking the river. A small boy, with a servant carrying a sunshade, is watching decorated boats on the river by William Prinsep 1835

Pen and ink and watercolour by William Prinsep (1794-1874) of the garden at his brother Charles' house at Isherah in West Bengal, dated c. the 1830s. The image showing a small boy, with a servant carrying a sunshade, watching decorated boats on the river, is inscribed on the facing page of the original sketchbook: 'Charles's Garden at Isherah looking south'. Charles Robert was the second son of John Prinsep. He joined the Bar in Calcutta, in 1826 and was Advocate-General of Bengal, 1846, 1849 and 1852-1855. William Prinsep, an employee of the Calcutta firm Palmer & Co., came from a family who served in India for several generations. After the collapse of the above company he worked as an indigo broker, was on the board of the Assam Company and was credited with the establishment of the Indian Tea industry as well as establishing the Bengal Coal Company and inheriting the Bengal Salt Company on the death of his brother George.


source: British Library (bl.uk)

Interior of the Chowringhee Theatre, Calcutta (Kolkata), from the circle looking towards the stage, showing the first few rows of seats by William Pr

Pen and ink drawing of the interior of the Chowringhee Theatre in Calcutta, West Bengal, by William Prinsep (1794-1874), c. 1830s. The image is inscribed, "All the rest rows of benches, Counsillers box and Govr. Genl. box". Inscribed on the original mount: "Chowringhee Theatre holds about 800 persons in the boxes and 200 in the pit. Last scene of 'Blind Boy' set-my own drawing WP".

William Prinsep, a merchant with the Calcutta firm of Palmer & Company, came from a family which served in India for several generations; five of his brothers were also in the country. The Chowringhee theatre was built in 1813 and was bought by Prinsep's friend Dwarkanath Tagore in 1835 for Rs 30,000. It burnt down in 1839. This view is from the circle looking towards the stage showing the first few rows of seats.


source: British Library (bl.uk)

The interior of the Arsenal, Fort William, Calcutta (Kolkata) by William Prinsep - 1835

Pencil and ink drawing of the interior of the Arsenal in Fort William at Calcutta by William Prinsep (1794-1874) dating from the 1830s. This view shows rifles stacked in three-tiered rows. The new Fort William was constructed as a result of the damaging attack on the original fort by the forces of Siraj-ud-Daulah the Nawab of Bengal in 1757. It was situated to the south of the city in Gobindpore and designed by John Brohier. The structure is polygonal in form and has extensive defences including bastions, earthworks and a moat. The area surrounding the fort, known as the Maidan, was cleared to provide an unrestricted line of fire.

source: British Library (bl.uk)

St Peter's Church, Fort William, Calcutta (Kolkata) by William Prinsep - 1835

Watercolour with pen and ink of St Peter's Church in Fort William in Calcutta by William Prinsep (1794-1874) c.1830s. Inscribed on the original mount: 'New Gothic Church in the Centre of Fort William, built by Capt Hutchinson-viewed from the flatstaff Bastion. Tumbrils & gun carriages laid out for inspection Gov. General's house in case of siege. Shot yard-ordnance'.

The new Fort William was constructed as a result of the damaging attack on the original fort by the forces of Siraj-ud-Daulah the Nawab of Bengal in 1757. It was situated to the south of the city in Gobindpore and designed by John Brohier. The structure is polygonal in form and has extensive defences including bastions, earthworks and a moat. The foundation stone of the Neo-Gothic church of St Peter's inside the fort was laid in 1822. It opened for worship in 1825 and was consecrated in 1828. William Prinsep was a merchant in the Calcutta firm of Palmer & Company. He came from a family who served in India for several generations; five of his brothers were also in the country.

source: British Library (bl.uk)