fter the captivating scenes of the Hostage
Princes in 1792, the jubilation which followed the successful
Storming of Seringapatam was quickly exploited by artists
and printmakers. Subscribers were sought, not only in Britain,
but through agents in Madras, Calcutta and Bombay, and prints
were dedicated to influential figures in the Mysore campaigns:
Baird; Dundas;
Richard Wellesley or His most gracious Majesty George III.
The prints were often published in sets of four: The
Assault and Taking of Seringapatam; 'The
Last Effort and Fall of Tipu Sultan; The
Body of Tipu Sultan recognised by his Family; The
Surrender of the 'Two Sons of Tipu Sultan (to Major
General Baird). For the popular market, engravings of the
dying Tipu and the surrender of his sons were translated
into glass paintings. Orme and Bartolozzi made engravings
after Mather Brown's paintings;
Grozer, Rogers, Laminet and Cardon
after Singleton; Reynolds after Ker Porter, and Cardon and
Schiavonetti after Allan. Nor was the market restricted
to Great Britain. Schiavonetti's
series after Singleton was published in London, but also
sold by the Augsburg Akademy, with inscriptions in German
and English. Other engravings have both English and French
inscriptions.
Following the French links to India, and Seringapatam, there
is evidence for the most remarkable demonstration of contemporary
French political ideals. A French paper was found in Tipu's
Palace in 1799, entitled 'Proceedings of a Jacobin Club
formed at Seringapatam by the French Soldiers in the Corps
commanded by M.Dompart. ' A Scotsman, Capt W Macleod, attested
to its authenticity. The Paper listed by name 59 Frenchmen
in the pay of 'Citizen Tippoo'; it described the gathering
of a Primary Assembly on 5th May 1797, to elect a President,
Francois Ripaud, and other officers. The 'Rights of Man'
were proclaimed, and Ripaud presented a lecture on Republican
principles. Further deliberations and formalities followed
before, on 14th May, the National flag was ceremonially
raised and a small delegation were formally received by
Tipu. The 'Citizen Prince' ordered a salute of 2,300 cannon,
all the musketry and 500 rockets, with a further 500 cannon
firing from the Fort. A Tree of Liberty was planted, and
crowned with a Cap of Equality, before Ripaud challenged
his co-patriots: 'Do you swear hatred to all Kings, except
Tippoo Sultaun, the Victorious, the Ally of the French Republic
- War against all Tyrants, and love towards your Country
and that of Citizen Tippoo.' 'Yes! We swear to live free
or die,' they replied.
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