The artist's encampment. Between 1819 and 1826

Water-colour painting of the encampment of the artist, William Havell (1782-1857) made between 1819 and 1826. Inscribed on the back in ink is: 'My encampment' under 'the shade of Tamarind trees in India. W. Havell.'

Havell came from a well-known Reading family of artists and engravers. His father was a drawing-master with fourteen children, and William was early put in business. He persisted in drawing and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1804 and at the British Institution from 1806. He was one of the first members of the Water-colour Society. In 1816 he accompanied Lord Amherst's mission to China on board 'The Alceste' as artist to the expedition. On the embassy's return to Canton in 1817, Havell proceeded to India, visiting Calcutta and Madras in 1819 and Hyderabad in 1822. He left India In 1826, worked in Italy in 1827, and then returned to England.