The Fort of Vellore in the Carnatic

Thomas Daniell, RA (Chertsey 1749 – Kensington 1840). Oil painting on canvas, The Fort of Vellore in the Carnatic by Thomas Daniell, RA (Chertsey 1749 – Kensington 1840), signed and dated 1815. The picture shows a view of the fort, surrounded by jungle and hills, and a temple in the centre, that was built around 1566 in Vellore city, near Chennai (Madras) in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. From around 1760 the fort was in British possession until Indian independence. It also contains a mosque, church, as well as a Christian hospital which may be the building seen on the right. At the time the picture was painted the last ruling monarch of Sri Lanka was imprisoned there in exile with his family until his death 17 years later. On a path in the foreground are an elephant and possibly the royal entourage. Stourhead, Wiltshire (Accredited Museum)