A scarce 19th century view of Mumbai

SIMPSON, William.

Street in Bombay,
London: Day & Son, 1867. Chromolithograph. Trimmed into image and laid on board, as issued. Image 490 x 340mm.

Board toned.

A rare chromolithograph, plate 4 of William Simpson's 'India Ancient and Modern - A Series of Illustrations of the Country and People of India and Adjacent Territories'. It shows a bustling street, lined with buildings with the distinctive red-and-green carvings on the pillars. Locals stand in the streets, as a carriage carrying a European with top hat and walrus moustache is driven past. By the steps stands a Parsi priest, reading a book.
Simpson (1823-99), a Scottish born artist and war correspondent best known for his coverage of the Crimean War. His success there led to a commission from the publishers Day & Son visit India in the wake of the 1857 Mutiny, to be published using chromolithography (colour printing using multiple lithographic stones). Of the 250 watercolours Simpson provided only fifty images were published, as Day & Son went bankrupt that year, making these prints very scarce.


Stock ID : 18877