Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1802-02-26
A View of the East India House
The original headquarters of the East India Company was the former mansion house of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London. The Company occupied this building on Leadenhall Street from 1648. It was reconstructed to the design of the German merchant-architect Theodore Jacobsen in 1726. This print shows the 'New East India House' after it was rebuilt under the auspices of the East India Company's Surveyor, Richard Jupp, between 1799 and 1800.
At this time the East India Company held the trading monopoly in both India and China. In the bottom right hand corner of the picture, visitors from these countries can be seen talking in the street. The Company's commercial and political power are symbolised by the sculptures above the building's portico. Britannia seated on her throne is flanked by the figures of Asia to the left and Europe on the right. The frieze below was sculpted by John Bacon the Elder and completed after his death by his son. The scene depicts the King of Great Britain protecting Britannia with his shield as she receives the produce of Asia, who is shown kneeling before her. After the East India Company was abolished in 1858, East India House was pulled down in 1862.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- Z1266
- Object name:
- A View of the East India House
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Bowles and Carver
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
69 St Paul's Churchyard, City of London, London, City of London
- Production date:
- 1802-02-26
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 357 mm, W 530 mm (mounted), H 318 mm, W 470 mm (unmounted)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.