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In Memoriam

Printmaker: Simmons, William Henry · 1811-1882Publisher: Hill, Alexander · 1800-1866

In Memoriam

Paton's original painting showed Indian sepoys forcing entry to the room in which the women and children were hiding, illustrative of an incident in…

Paton's original painting showed Indian sepoys forcing entry to the room in which the women and children were hiding, illustrative of an incident in the relief of Lucknow in September 1857, three months after the massacre perpetrated against British residents, mainly women and children, in Cawnpore. When exhibited at he Royal Academy in 1858 the painting caused outroar and Alexander Hill, who had purchased the painting from Paton, was probably instrumental in persuading paton to substitute the 78th Highlanders for the murderous sepoys before the painting was shown athe RSA Annual Exhibition in 1859.

Hill purchased Paton's oil painting for 1200 guineas in 1858 with a view to having it engraved and lent the picture to the RSA Annual Exhibition in 1859.