[19th-century commonplace book with watercolors, drawings, poems, and manuscript writings] by [COMPANY SCHOOL] - VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS - 'EVANS' FAMILY - 1831

1831. 8vo. (8 13/16 x 7 3/8 inches). Pages white, yellow, pink, and green with 85 original and extra-illustrations such as drawings in pencil, ink, and gouache laid down on the pages, including 25 illustrations of Indian subject matter of which are 22 classic Company School drawings. Of all the illustrations, 62 are coloured. Straight-grained red morocco. Boards and spine elaborately blind and gilt tooled with motifs of lyres and hops. Inner dentelles gilt

A fascinating commonplace book with contributions by members of a single family, including a collection of very fine Company School drawings.

The present volume contains many contributions by members of the 'Evans' family, including 'Amelia Evans,' 'Eliza Evans,' and 'H. Evans.' Of particular interest are the 'Company School' drawings collected by H. Evans whose detailed description of the Taj Mahal places him in India. British officials, traders, and other Europeans who lived in India during the late 18th century to the 19th century were often fascinated by the country's rich culture, landscapes, and traditions, many of whom commissioned Indian artists to create paintings that depicted various aspects of Indian life, culture, flora, fauna, and landscapes. These works were often made for personal collections or as gifts for their families in Europe. The present volume houses several fine examples of the 'Company School' drawings that emerged as a result of the patronage and influence of the British officials and traders in India. The twenty-two Company School drawings present are captioned: 1. 'Fort of Agra from the Terpoleon' 2. 'Fort of Agra from the River Jumna' 3. 'Jemau Musjid in the Fort of Agra' 4. 'Gateway into the Garden of Akbar Shah's Tomb at Secundra near Agra' 5. 'Akbar Shah's Tomb at Secundra' 6. 'Gateway into the Tomb of one of the Moghul Princes at Futtehpoor Sikri near Agra' 7. 'The Tomb. The Sarcophagus under the Dome is of Mother of Pear with Silver Edgings' 8. 'Tomb of Etamadowlat, Grand Vizier to the Emperor Jehangeer' 9. 'Section of the Interior' [of the above] 10. 'Gateway into the Gardens of the Taje Mahal at Agra' 11. 'The Taje from the inside of the Gateway' 12. 'Building on the right of the Taje Mahal occupied by Visitors' 13. 'Section of the Interior of the Taje Mahal' 14. 'Border of Flowers in bas-relief round the Interior if the Taje Mahal' 15. 'The Taje Mahal from the River Jumna' 16. 'Tomb of Shah Johan in the Taje Mahal' 17. 'Flower in Mosaic forming a Border round Shah Johan's Tomb each consisting of sixty four different Stones' 18. 'The Mosaic on the Summit of Shah Johan's Tomb' 19. 'Part of the Mosaic on the above on a larger scale' 20. 'A border in Mosaic round the Tomb' 21. 'The Tomb of Noor Jehan Begum' 22. 'Part of the Summit of Noor Jehan's Tomb' Within this suite, the depiction of the Taj Mahal, viewed from the tranquil banks of the River Yamuna, draws particular attention. Evans, with meticulous detail, chronicled the architectural intricacies and encapsulated the essence of the experience, remarking, "On beholding it, the eyes become fascinated, they can scarcely be removed from so delightful an object." This personal narrative invites us to partake in the awe and reverence that Evans must have felt when encountering this iconic monument and establishes an intimate and immersive connection with the original owner who had acquired and preserved these drawings. As well as materials of Indian subject matter, in keeping with the tradition of 19th-century commonplace books, the volume contains varied extra-illustrations and original contributions. These include delicate pastoral sketches in pencil of such places as an English school house, the ruins of Netley Abbey, Lanercost Priory, and a fortress Normandy. The volume also contains charming watercolours of local characters, cherished lines of verse, and witty musings.