Explore: Robert Home

(1752 - 1834)

Robert Home, painter of history, portraits and landscapes, was born in Hull. In 1790, he sailed for Madras, arriving by January 1791. There he painted views of India and portraits of British residents. He accompanied British troops during the 1792 campaign against Tipu Sultan and made coloured aquatints for ‘Select Views in Mysore’ in 1794 and a ‘Description of Seringapatam’ in 1796. In 1795, he moved to Calcutta, where he painted portraits and decorated the new Government House. In 1814, he went to Lucknow, becoming official Historical and Portrait Painter to the Nawabs of Oudh. In addition to painting he supervised the making and decorating of furniture, carriages, boats and howdahs. Home retired to Cawnpore in 1828, where he later died.