George Chinnery (1774–1852), regarded as the last romantic artist of India arrived in the country 1802 and stayed until 1825. Over the years Chinnery grew increasingly Byronic against his society; his satiric angle on his patrons and their conventions grew and he came to find the British establishment in colonial India pretentious and insufferable.[…] He exiled himself from Calcutta society-and his debtors-fifteen miles up river to the Danish township of Serampore in 1820…Almeida and Gilpin in Indian Renaissance. British Romantic Art and the Prospect of India, 2005, p.298 The Asiatic Lithographic Company’s Press was established in 1823 and regarded as the first commercially viable press in India. It was the premier lithographic press in Calcutta during the 1820’s and responsible for a number of “lithographic firsts” in India.

George Cruttenden was a former Major in The East India Company’s Bengal Army. After Military Service he was partner at Cruttenden, Mackillop & Co., one of the half-dozen firms which dominated the economy of Bengal in the early nineteenth century. Benjamin Wolff succeeded Cruttenden after his death in 1822 and, bound by family ties he furthermore took care of his private papers. Benjamin’s brother Knud N. Wolff had been married to George Cruttenden’s daughter Sarah but had died three years earlier. The announcement of the publication of the engraving was brought in The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany,no.15, 1823 and The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, China, and Australia, 1823; “Mr. C. Pote, of Calcutta, has obtained permission to publish by subscription, a Portrait of the late George Cruttenden, Esq. from a picture painted of that gentle when in the Army, and in the possession of Dr. Wallich. The Plate will be engraved in exact imitation of the picture, of the dimensions of 8½ by 6½. Price of Subscription, 32 Rupees.” Shortly after its publication the engraving received praise in The Oriental Magazine and Calcutta Review. Vol. II., 1823; “Engraving of the late George Cruttenden, Esq.-We are glad to see a work of this kind produced and published in Calcutta. The engraving, which is in the line manner, is executed by Mr. C. Pote, from a painting, we understand, by Mr. Chinnery, and in the possession of Dr. Wallich. It is a strong likeness of what we remember Mr. Cruttenden to have been about 12 years ago. He was then a Major in the Bengal Army, and is accordingly represented in his military uniform. We are indeed glad to see this portrait, as well on account of the highly respected, generous, and honorable individual, whom it represents, as the talent which the artist has displayed in the performance now submitted to the public. It is something new in this part of the world to see an engraving of this description, executed on the spot. We allude particularly to the laborious style that has been adopted. In many parts of the work, the burine has been well managed, and with good effect; but in others, for instance the hair, the direction of the lines has not been so successfully regulated. Upon the whole, however, we congratulate the artist, and the public on the appearance of this engraving.” A well inked impression on fine oriental paper. Attached to sheet of cream paper.