Writers' Building, Calcutta. An aquatint from 'Views of India: Calcutta and its Environs' by James Baillie Fraser (London, 1824-1826). [Library shelfmark FB.el.54]
The Writers' Building, Calcutta, was the former HQ of the British East India Company, and is now used by the Government of West Bengal.
James Baillie Fraser (1783-1856) went to India with the hope of making money to pay off family debts. Once there, he realised his own artistic potential.
After an extensive tour in the Himalaya, where he was constantly sketching, Fraser settled in Calcutta and set up the Agency firm of Fraser and Mackintosh. Yet his own art work became more important to him than the business, and he became active in artistic circles there.
Fraser was the first to publish views of the Himalaya, and he also commissioned and collected works by Indian artists, as well as writing about his travels.
This book featured in the 'Images of India' display at the Library from 6 July to 20 August 2017.