James (1780) Atkinson Paintings & Artwork for Sale | James (1780) Atkinson Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 23, 2024
JAMES ATKINSON OIL OF A MEETING OF RAJAHS IN THE PUNJAB HILLS
Est: $30,000 - $50,000
ATKINSON, James (attr.) (1780-1852). A meeting of Rajahs in the Punjab hills. Oil on canvas. 27 1/4" x 35 1/4" canvas, 34" x 42" framed. James Atkinson (1780-1852), English surgeon, Persian scholar, newspaper editor, and artist spent extensive amounts of time throughout India, first arriving there in 1802. Although Atkinson showed a talent for portraiture and languages as a child, he received his artistic and Persian language training in Backergunj near Dacca in present-day Bangladesh. In Backergunj, Atkinson, along with his close friend Sir Chalres D’Oyly, became a pupil of painter George Chinnery who inspired Atkinson’s love for painting Indian landscapes and village life. In 1812, Atkinson was stationed in Calcutta working at the Calcutta Mint where he served as Assistant to the Assay Master; the Assay Master was Horace Hayman Wilson, who published the first Sanskrit to English dictionary in 1819. From there, Atkinson was appointed Editor of Calcutta Gazette, later named Government Gazette, one of the earliest English language newspapers in India. In 1838, Atkinson was appointed Superintendent Surgeon of the Army of the Indus, Bengal Division, on an expedition to Afghanistan to address political turmoil in the region, making up what would be known as the First Anglo-Afghan War, lasting between 1838 and 1842. It was around this time that Atkinson produced this picture, first working it out through drawing and watercolor, and later in the present oil. In 1842, the artist published Sketches of Afghanistan, providing views of the campaign in the Afghanistan and Punjab regions. While this image is not included in the publication, Atkinson had planned for a second volume which was never realized. While the worked up oils were lost in a shipwreck en route to England, the original sketches for the second volume were saved and are currently housed at the British Library. In the present painting, palm trees, dense forest, the blue sky nearing dusk, and a road leading to an edifice capping a pointed hill direct the viewer’s eye across the picture. Below, rajahs (Indian dignitaries or nobles during the British Raj) and their militiamen have established an encampment. Some of the men are on horse or on foot holding long spears and others have set up tents where they take rest and enjoy hookah. The flags and dress of the men below suggest they are part of the Sikh Khalsa Army; Punjab is the heart of the Sikh religion and cultural group, located in modern day Pakistan. Smoke rises above the tree line and the tops of an onion-domed building can be made out above the foliage at the center of the picture. The figural group in the background, rendered with simple strokes of paint, appear frenzied looking to the hills beyond. In the foreground, where one official confides with another with concern, we see that the others have not caught on yet to the impending force that approaches the camp. While the picture at first glance appears serene, Atkinson complicates this initial feeling with the troubling details in the lower half of the picture.
Arader Galleries
Sep. 20, 2022
James Atkinson (British, 1780-1852) 'The Approach to the Fotress of Kwettah'; 'View of the Mountain Baba-Naunee, Called Kutl-Gahor' a pair of tinted lithographed views after James Atkinson, from 'Sketches of Aghaunistan', window-mounted, published...
Est: £400 - £600
James Atkinson (British, 1780-1852) 'The Approach to the Fotress of Kwettah'; 'View of the Mountain Baba-Naunee, Called Kutl-Gahor' a pair of tinted lithographed views after James Atkinson, from 'Sketches of Aghaunistan', window-mounted, published by Henry Graves, [1842]; and another tinted lithograph view, 'The 1st Bombay Europ. Fusiliers (Storming the Breach at the Kornee Boorg' by J. Maclure after J. Dunlop, [c.1850] (3) image 205 x 285cm (80 11/16 x 112 3/16in). For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Sep. 14, 2021
AFTER JAMES ATKINSON (BRITISH, 1780-1852) 'View of the Mountain of Baba-Naunee'; and 2 other views from 'Sketches of Afghaunistan' hand-coloured lithographs mounted on cards obscuring captions, age toned, window-mounted, [1842] (3)
Est: £600 - £800
AFTER JAMES ATKINSON (BRITISH, 1780-1852) 'View of the Mountain of Baba-Naunee'; and 2 other views from Sketches of Afghaunistan hand-coloured lithographs mounted on cards obscuring captions, age toned, window-mounted, [1842] 25 x 37cm (9 13/16 x 14 9/16in). (3) For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Dec. 12, 2018
AFGHANISTAN – ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. [Londo
Est: £12,000 - £18,000
AFGHANISTAN – ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. [London: Henry Graves, 1842.] [With:] — The Expedition into Afghanistan: Notes and Sketches descriptive of the Country. London: W.H. Allen, 1842. The frst edition, in deluxe, fully hand-coloured portfolio format. This copy accompanied by an original watercolour drawing and the scarce text volume. Atkinson, a doctor by training and an accomplished Persian scholar, had accompanied the army of the Indus on its march to Kabul and returned to Bengal in 1841 before the massacre of the army of occupation. His work is one of the earliest collections of views of Afghanistan. There are particularly fne views of Kabul, including a scene of a bazaar and two views of the beautiful Gardens of Babur, but the most dramatic plates are an extensive series showing the march of British troops through the narrow Bolan Pass on their way to take Kandahar. Abbey, Travel 508; Colas 173; Tooley 73. Together 2 volumes, folio (557 x 450mm) and octavo (202 x 120mm). Plate volume: Lithographed pictorial title and 25 tinted lithographed plates by Charles and Louis Haghe after James Atkinson, all hand-coloured and mounted on thick, ruled card; single leaf of letterpress description printed in blue (a few spots, some discoloration to card, descriptive text leaf with some creases and repaired tears and preserved in later window mat). With an original watercolour drawing (240 x 365mm) of plate 21, 'Caubul, from a Burying Ground on the Mountain Ridge, North East of the City,' preserved in a modern mat. Loose as issued in contemporary green cloth portfolio, upper cover with green morocco gilt title-label (rebacked and faps renewed, corners showing). Text volume: Frontispiece map. Original green cloth (discreetly rebacked, some rubbing). Provenance: William H. Morley (neat contemporary blindstamp to text volume).
Christie's
Jun. 09, 2015
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. London: He
Est: £800 - £1,200
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. London: Henry
Christie's
Jan. 27, 2015
James Atkinson (British, 1780-1852) Entrance into the Kajak Pass from Parush; The First Descent through the Ka
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
James Atkinson (British, 1780-1852) Entrance into the Kajak Pass from Parush; The First Descent through the Kajak Pass; The Entrance into Caubul from Killa-Kazee; A Street in the Bazar at Caubul, a set of 4
Bonhams
Apr. 04, 2012
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan . London: Henry Graves, 1842. 2° (535 x 370 mm). Tinted lithographic title, lithographic dedication leaf, one leaf of descriptive text printed in blue, and 25 tinted lithographic plates by
Est: £700 - £1,000
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. London: Henry Graves, 1842. 2° (535 x 370 mm). Tinted lithographic title, lithographic dedication leaf, one leaf of descriptive text printed in blue, and 25 tinted lithographic plates by Louis and Charles Haghe. (Occasional spotting, mainly marginal.) Contemporary quarter sheep (worn). Provenance: Egerton Spicer (inscription) FIRST EDITION. Atkinson, a doctor by training and an accomplished Persian scholar, had accompanied the army of the Indus on its march to Kabul and returned to Bengal in 1841 before the massacre of the army of occupation. These illustrations were to accompany his narrative of the journey into what was then a little-known country. Sold together with: SALE, Florentia, Lady. A Journal of the Disasters in Affghanistan, 1841-2. London: John Murray, 1843. PRESENTATION COPY to Richard Henry FitzRoy, 2nd Baron of Raglan. Abbey Travel 508; Colas 173; Lipperheide Ld 31; Tooley 73. (2)
Christie's
Mar. 21, 2012
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan, London 1842, Henry Graves and W H Allen
Est: £1,500 - £2,500
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan, London 1842, Henry Graves and W H Allen Lithographic title, lithographic dedication leaf, one leaf of descriptive text printed in blue, and 25 lithographic plates by Louis and Charles Haghe. Contemporary green cover decorated in gilt,
Ewbank's
Sep. 23, 2010
Attributed to James Atkinson (1780-1852)
Est: £8,000 - £12,000
Attributed to James Atkinson (1780-1852) A meeting of Rajahs in the Punjab Hills oil on canvas 27½ x 35¾in. (70 x 91cm.)
Christie's
Dec. 09, 2009
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longman, Henry Graves & Company, and W.H. Allen, 1 July 1842.
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
ATKINSON, James (1780-1852). Sketches in Afghaunistan. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longman, Henry Graves & Company, and W.H. Allen, 1 July 1842. 2υo (522 x 362 mm). Hand-colored tinted lithographic title, lithographic dedication leaf, one leaf of descriptive text printed in blue, and 25 hand-colored tinted lithographic plates by Louis and Charles Haghe. Contemporary green morocco decorated in gilt, blind and black (rebacked preserving orginal spine). Provenance: Edward Smith Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby (1775-1851; armorial bookplate, manuscript library location and shelf-mark for Knowsley Hall). FIRST EDITION. THE EARL OF DERBY'S COPY of this important work. Atkinson, a doctor by training and an accomplished Persian scholar, had accompanied the army of the Indus on its march to Kabul and returned to Bengal in 1841 before the massacre of the army of occupation. These illustrations were to accompany his narrative of the journey into what was then a little-known country. Abbey Travel 508; Colas 173; Lipperheide Ld 31; Tooley 73.
Christie's