Robert Home facts for kids
Robert Home (1752–1834) was a talented British artist. He was known for painting portraits of people. In 1791, he traveled all the way to the Indian subcontinent, which is now countries like India. While there, he also painted amazing pictures of historical events and beautiful landscapes.
Robert Home's Life and Artistic Journey
Robert Home was born in Hull, a city in the United Kingdom. His father was an important army surgeon. Robert began his art training with a famous artist named Angelica Kauffman. She even stayed with his family in London in 1766.
Later, in 1769, he studied at the Royal Academy Schools. This was a very important art school. To learn even more, he went to Rome, Italy, in 1773. He stayed there until 1777, improving his skills.
After returning, he worked in Dublin and London from 1783 to 1789. Then, in 1790, he decided to travel to India. On February 5, 1791, he got special permission. He was allowed to follow the army of Lord Cornwallis. This was during the Third Anglo-Mysore War, as the army moved towards Bangalore.
Famous Paintings in South India
While in South India, Robert Home created some of his most famous paintings. These included The Hostage Princes leaving home with the Vakil, Ghulam Ali. Another well-known painting was Lord Cornwallis Receiving Tipu Sahib's Sons.
In November 1792, Home met other artists, Thomas Daniell and William Daniell. They inspired him to keep painting landscapes. He visited Mahabalipuram in early 1793. He painted two pictures of the ruins there. These paintings are now kept at The Asiatic Society in Kolkata.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1795, Home moved to Calcutta, which is now Kolkata. He continued his work there and became a well-known artist. He even served as the Secretary of a society there for some time. He was also the first person in charge of their library in 1804. He generously donated his own valuable art collection to them.
In 1814, he moved to Lucknow. There, he became a court painter for Nawab Ghazi-ud-Din Haider. This meant he painted for the ruler. In 1827, he traveled to Kanpur, where he passed away in 1834.
Robert Home also published a book of his art called Select Views in Mysore, the Country of Tippoo Sultan in 1794. While in Calcutta, he made 215 detailed watercolor drawings. These showed Indian mammals, birds, and reptiles. Some of these drawings he later turned into oil paintings.
