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François Balthazar Solvyns, Les Hindous: Ou Description de Leurs Moeurs, Coutumes et Ceremonies, Paris: Chez l'Auteur & H Nicolle, 1808-1812

Set of 4 volumes
Half-titles in volume 1 only, titles with hand-coloured vignettes of views and a portrait of Solvyns, 292 coloured etched plates, 36 double-page mounted on guards, text in French and English, index leaf at end of each volume
Half-bound with contemporary marbled boards with five raised bands and gilt text at the spine
57 x 43 x 5.5 cm) (each)

Provenance: Bibliothèque du baron James de Rothschild.

As a result of political unrest in Europe, Belgian marine artist Frans Balthazar Solvyns travelled to India in search of wealth. From 1791 to 1803, Solvyns resided in Calcutta, where he created etchings that depicted the region of Bengal and its inhabitants. Beginning with theatrical productions, he accepted minor commissions and drew sketches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for Alexander Kyd, the Surveyor-General of India. Encouraged by Orientalist Sir William Jones and British interest in Indian lifestyles, Solvyns produced a comprehensive record of Indian festivals, occupations, castes, musical instruments, asceticism, and transport.

This four-volume compilation includes texts in French and English, as well as detailed visuals in the form of coloured plates, describing and depicting the customs, festivals, occupations, caste system, and costumes of the Hindu community, as well as encompassing all social classes in Calcutta. Frans Balthazar Solvyns, after arriving in India immersed himself over the next decade in documenting the lives of the people, wrote and drew this series in the 1790s, known for its accurate and detailed portrayal, which served as a source for many other works on the subject.

Solvyns originally published a set of 250 plates in Calcutta in 1799, titled A Collection of Two Hundred and Fifty Coloured Etchings Descriptive of the Manners, Customs, and Dress of the Hindoos. This publication, however, was unsuccessful. In 1804, after departing from India and moving to France, Solvyns redrew the plates, adding more, and published them from 1808-12 as a series of large folios in 48 parts, titled Les Hindous.

The present lot of four volumes book and it includes 292 coloured etchings, and each volume explores different themes:

The first is devoted to professions, including images of tradesmen and their tools, princes, and doctors.
The second to dances, religious devotees, different types of musical instruments, and customs associated with marriage and death.
The third volume depicts transportation and entertainment, including types of boats, games, modes of transportation, games, and various methods of smoking.
And the fourth looks at classes of domestic servants and native flora and fauna.

The figures are individual in character, an orderly portrayal of the Hindu caste division prevalent in society two hundred years ago. Solvyn's wife, Mary Anne Greenwood, accompanied each plate with French text and an English translation. Solvyns's work becomes even more significant today from India's historical and social perspective. In 1814, he returned to Antwerp from Paris and passed away on October 10, 1824.

LIST OF PLATES

VOLUME I
1. Title page / 2. Mohabaurut-er-Shobha or the explaining of the text and commentaries of the Mohabaurut by a Brahmun (double page) / 3. Sroterys Brahmuns / 4. Kanoge Brahmun / 5. Drawers Brahmuns / 6. Brijbasis Brahmuns / 7. Ooriahs or Orissahs Brahmuns / 8. Rhaumien-Gauyin. Brahmuns chanting the exploits of Rheum (double page) / 9. Rajah Hindoo Prince at his Prayers / 10. Rajah in full dress / 11. K'huttery Landholder / 12. Byce Merchant / 13. Soodder Servant / 14. Hurry-Sung-Kertun (double page) / 15. Dybuck, Astronomer / 16. B'haut Puffer, Flatterer / 17. Byde, Physician / 18. Causto, Writer / 19. Joogee, Cloth-Merchant, Weaver / 20. Raush-Jatrah. Celebration of the Loves of Kistna (double page) / 21. Nauhyr, Milkseller, Milkman / 22. Chassa-Dobas. Rice-Threshers / 23. Chassah-Khyberts. Gardeners / 24. Augrys. Ploughmen / 25. Berage. Cultivator of pawn / 26. D'jolen Jatrah, Swinging of Kistna (double page) / 27. Tantys. Weavers / 28. Tchankarys. Workers of shells / 29. Koumars. Smiths (or Blacksmiths) / 30. Qomars. Potters / 31. Kansauris. Copper-Smiths / 32. Routh-Jatrah. Procession of the Gods in their car (double page) / 33. Sonar-Bunnyas. Money-changers / 34. Hulwyes. Pastry-cooks / 35. Mayras. Confectioners / 36. Gund Bunnyas. Grocers / 37. Tillys. Retailers / 38. Chaun-Jatrah. Celebration of the Bath of Juggernaut (double page) / 39. Palanquin Carriers of the Ooriah Cast / 40. Carriers of the Rowanny Cast / 41. Doolees, or Carriers of the cast of Bengalees / 42. Jellees, or Carriers of the cast of Fishermen / 43. Gwallahs. Cow-herds / 44. Dole-Jatrah. Celebration of the Orgies of Kistna (double page) / 45. Rajpoots / 46. Rauwuts / 47. Brijbasis, a Hindoo Tribe / 48. Sics, a Hindoo Tribe / 49. Mahrattas, a Hindoo Tribe / 50. Basso-Jun. The throwing the images of the Gods into the water (double page) / 51. Maulys, Flowermen / 52. Chooters. Carpenters / 53. Dobys. Washermen / 54. Dandys. Boatmen / 55. Jelle-As. Fishermen / 56. J'haump. Hindoes throwing themselves on Knives and Swords (double page) / 57. Koalhoos. Oilmen / 58. Kapaulys. Rope-makers / 59. Chunharys. Preparers of fine Lime / 60. Soonrees. Manufacturers and Dealers in Wine / 61. Seulys. Makers of Toddy / 62. Nila-Pooja. Various expiations of the Hindoos (double page) / 63. Nauys. Shaving barbers / 64. Kawns. Hindi Singers / 65. Mauls. Snake-catchers / 66. Puttooas. Painters / 67. Doams. Basket-makers / 68. Churrack-Pooja. Hindoes swinging in expiation of their sins double page) / 69. Poads. A low class of Servants / 70. Mooches. Tanners, Shoe-makers / 71. Haurys. Nightmen / 72. Moorda-Shoos. Undertakers, removers of Corpses / 73. Kawras. Hog-keepers

VOLUME II
74. Title page / 75. Hindoo buildings (double page) / 76. A Hindoo of rank of in his undress / 77. A Hindoo of inferior rank /78. A Hindoo of the lowest rank / 79. Behalee-a, the primitive Hindoo soldier / 80. The Chourti, another sort of dress / 81. Nautch. A Hindoo dance / 82. A Woman of distinction / 83. A Woman of inferior rank / 84. A Woman of low rank / 85. Gallon. Milk-woman / 86. Agooree, a proscribed Woman / 87. Durgah-Poojah (double page) / 88. A woman in full dress / 89. Ramjanny, a dancing girl / 90. Hidgra, an Hermaphrodite / 91. Seapoys. Soldiers / 92. Baulk, a dancing boy / 93. A View of the Pagoda of Calleegaut (double page) / 94. Purrum-hungse, Penitent / 95. Dundee, another sort of Faquir / 96. Soonassee / 97. Beeshnub. A devotee / 98. Nanuk-punthy / 99. Ooddoobahoos and other Faquirs (double page) / 100. Ab'dhoot, a penitent naked / 101. Ramanundy. A devotee of the God Ram / 102. Bermacharry. Another sort of devotee / 103. Naugus. Another kind of Faquirs / 104. A faquir at his prayers / 105. Behaho, or marriage (double page) / 106. Sunk & G'unta, musical instruments / 107. Kunser. Another instrument / 108. Tumboora / 109. Kuplyans, or Been / 110. Pennauck / 111. Jaupaun, or Munsah Poojah (double page) / 112. Sittar, or Guittar / 113. Saringee / 114. Sarinda / 115. Omorti / 116. Oorni / 117. Saupereah. Snake catchers (double page) / 118. D'hauck / 119. D'hola / 120. Khole, or Mirden / 121. D'holuk / 122. Tubla / 123. Shoho-Gomon. A Woman burning herself with the corpse of her husband (double page). / 124. Joorghaje, a musical instrument / 125. Tichora, a musical instrument / 126. Pucwauz / 127. Nagra / 128. Kaura / 129. Onnoo-Gomon, or Onnoo-Mutah. The wife burning herself with some of her husband's property (double page) / 130. Dump / 131. Doyra / 132. Jugo, Jhumpo / 133. Surmungla / 134. K'hunjery / 135. Shoho-Gomon. A Woman leaping into the flames to the corpse of her husband (double page) / 136. Kurtaul / 137. Kaunsy / 138. Jultrung / 139. Munjeerah / 140. J'haunjree / 141. Choho-Gomon. The wife of an Hindoo buried alive (double page) / 142. Ramsinga / 143. Baunck / 144. Soorna / 145. Tobrie / 146. Bunsee

VOLUME III
147. Title page / 148. North-Wester (double page) [Maritime plate] / 149. A Pinnace or Yatch / 150. Feal-Chara / 151. Moor-Punker / 152. Budgerow / 153. Baawalee-a / 154. The coming in of the Baum or Boar (double page) / 155. Pettoo-a / 156. Pansway / 157. Khela or Loll Dingee / 158. Dingee / 159. Muga-Chara / 160. Poulo Penang (double page) / 161. Dony / 162. Jellee-a Dingee / 163. Seringee / 164. Ekgachee / 165. Gunga / 166. View of Ballasore Roads (double page) / 167. Grab / 168. Bangles / 169. Pataily / 170. Kautry / 171. Balaum / 172. Ferry, or passage on the Ganges (double page) / 173. Brig / 174. Wolack / 175. Kose / 176. Pulsar / 177. Hola / 178. Gunga-Jatra, or Mullo-Pray. Hindoos Dying (double page) / 179. Sloop / 180. Towboat / 181. Burr / 182. Gudwaree / 183. Yet Dingee / 184. Elephants and Camels (double page) / 185. Ruth, or Chariot / 186. Gary / 187. Ekka / 188. Rahhoo / 189. Hackery / 190. Bengali Road (double page) / 191. Chowpaul / 192. J'halledar / 193. Mohafa / 194. Dooly / 195. Ladoo-Byle / 196. The Black Town at Calcutta (double page) / 197. Horse richly caparisoned, and a Tattou / 198. Mejanah / 199. Long Palanquin / 200. Boutcha / 201. Another sort of Palanquin / 202. School (double page) / 203-206. [Assorted] Narwal Hooka(s) / 207. Chillum / 208. Hindi Bazaar (double page) / 209. Snake Hooka / 210. Gourgoury Hooka / 211. Cullyaun Hooka / 212. Cheroot / 213. Pawn / 214. European buildings at Calcutta (double page) / 215. Hindoes conversations / 216. Jugglers / 217. Punches and other games / 218. Of the Nations most known in Hindoostan / 219. Vessels of all sorts

VOLUME IV
220. Title page / 221. Bannyan / 222. Sircar / 223. Jummadar / 224. Chaubdar / 225. Soonta Burdar / 226. Khaunsamaun / 227. Durwan / 228. Serdar / 229. Kidmudgar / 230. Hooka-Burdar / 231. Kherch-Burdar / 232. Chowry-Burdar / 233. B'heesty, Waterman / 234. Doby, Washerman / 235. Maukkun-Walla / 236. Booty-Walla / 237. Durzee, Taylor / 238. Clashy / 239. Coachman / 240. Syce, Groom / 241. Gassyara / 242. Mushauljee. Linckboy / 243. Doorea / 244. Chokeedar / 245. Hircarah / 246. Peadah / 247. Baulber / 248. Hajaum / 249. Aubdar / 250. Bawerchee, Cook / 251. Mater / 252. Corah-Burdar / 253. Ayah / 254. Another Ayah / 255. Dye, Nurse / 256. Materanny / 257. The Tamarine Tree / 258. The Mango Tree / 259. The Jac Tree / 260. The Coco, and other Palm Trees / 261. The Banana Tree / 262. The Bambou Tree / 263. Rice / 264. The Sugar Cane / 265. Mustard / 266. Cotton / 267. Indigo / 268. Cochineal / 269. The Buffalo / 270. The Tiger / 271. Ourang-Outang / 272. The Guenou / 273. The Jachal / 274. The Bengal Dog / 275. Crocodile / 276. Serpent / 277. Another species of Serpent / 278. Scolopender, or Centipede / 279. Musk Rat / 280. Topsy Matchi / 281. The Old Man, or a bird of prey / 282. Vulture / 283. Miope / 284. The Fox-Bat / 285. Kankalat / 286. Cariar / 287. Heads. Hindoos of the First Cast. Braumun. (2 figs) / 288. Heads. Hindoos of the Second Cast. Cuttery. (2 figs) / 289. Heads. Hindoos of the Third Cast. Byce. (2 figs) / 290. Heads. Hindoos of the Fourth Cast. Soodder. (2 figs) / 291. Inhabitants of Upper Hindoostan (2 figs) / 292. A Mogul, Man and Woman

Reference: J R Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, 430

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