Fort St. George and the Madras Roads, Oliver Hall, Oil on Canvas

Print on Art Paper

Print size: 44 x 34 cm / 17.5 x 13.5 inch

Oliver Hall was born in 1869 in London and studied at the Royal College of Art followed by stints at Westminster and Lambeth Schools of Art. This painting depicting Madras of 1754 was painted in England from the photograph of an engraving by James Walthen in 1754.

With Fort St. George occupying the background, a few sailing ships are in the frontal ground of an infinite sea. St. Mary’s Church with its spire manifests in the central plane. A small church is at the left centre while a row of undulating hills extend towards right of this composition. Amidst rows of architectural elements, swirling clouds in shades of blue and grey form the background.

Tall spires of architectural elements stand in harmony with the sky above them. Amidst this calm ensemble, the fluttering flag of the British Empire scripts its dominance over Indian territories. Reflections of ships and their open sails in the waters below highlight the artistic merit of Oliver Hall.