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Prize Agents extracting treasure (colour litho)
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Prize Agents extracting treasure (colour litho)
3062582 Prize Agents extracting treasure (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: Coloured lithograph from The Campaign in India 1857-58 from drawings made during the eventful period of the Great Mutiny, illustrating the military operations before Delhi and its neighbourhood. A series of 26 coloured lithographs by W Simpson, E Walker and others, after G F Atkinson, published by Day and Son, 1857-1858.
Associated with the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859).
Despite strict orders against individual looting, many of Delhis treasures filled the pockets of the troops who captured the city in September 1857. The loot was supposed to have been handed over to official prize agents who would then auction it and divide the proceeds. As this print depicts, the agents and their soldiers had few scruples when it came to how they gathered the loot. Contemporaries estimated the auctioned Delhi treasure to be worth over half a million pounds.); eNational Army Museum; English, out of copyright
Media ID 23114754
© National Army Museum / Bridgeman Images
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print titled "Prize Agents extracting treasure" takes us back to the 19th century, during the eventful period of the Great Mutiny in India. The coloured lithograph vividly illustrates the military operations before Delhi and its surroundings, showcasing a series of 26 lithographs by renowned artists such as W Simpson, E Walker, and G F Atkinson. The image depicts a scene that reflects both the allure and moral ambiguity surrounding war spoils. Despite strict orders against individual looting, this print reveals how many troops who captured Delhi in September 1857 couldn't resist filling their pockets with treasures from the city. These ill-gotten gains were meant to be handed over to official prize agents for auctioning and equitable distribution of proceeds. However, as we can see in this artwork, these agents and their soldiers had few scruples when it came to gathering loot. Their actions highlight the ethical dilemmas faced by those involved in conflicts where personal gain often overshadowed duty or honor. Contemporaries estimated that the auctioned Delhi treasure was worth an astonishing sum exceeding half a million pounds. This staggering figure underscores not only the immense wealth at stake but also serves as a testament to human greed amidst chaos. Through this thought-provoking image, we are transported into a moment fraught with tension between duty and temptation—a reminder that even in times of conflict, our true character is revealed through our choices.
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