What to see this week: ‘Lady Canning: an Indian Summer’

‘Here we are! Really in India! It feels like a dream… I am quite charmed by it,’ wrote Charlotte Canning, whose husband, Viscount Canning, became Governor-general of India in 1856. Lady Canning was a talented artist who, as lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria from 1842, had instructed the Queen in the art of watercolour. She sketched and painted visual records of many of the private and public royal tours she accompanied and, in particular, of holidays at Balmoral in Scotland and Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

Later, the experience of isolation and dullness she endured while incarcerated at Government House in Calcutta was alleviated by many remarkable journeys across India, from a month-long voyage up the Ganges to treks into the Himalayas. During these trips, she made exquisite records of the flora and fauna and painted the beautiful mountain and jungle landscape views.

However, there were also the anxiety and horrors of the Indian Mutiny and ill-health to contend with and, then, in 1861, just as they were due to return to Britain, Charlotte died of ‘jungle fever’ after returning from an expedition to Darjeeling.

Her accomplished watercolours, including Kangra (left) painted in 1860, are currently on display in an exhibition curated by Prof Ann Sumner: ‘Lady Canning: an Indian Summer’ at Harewood House, Leeds until October 29. For further information, telephone 0113–218 1010, or visit http://harewood.org