Collection of twelve various Indian subjects
Watercolour on paper
Bombay 1884
32 x 22 cms
The twelve watercolours described below are the work of a young Alfred Crowdy
Lovett. The records of the Gloucestershire Regiment museum show that he was a Lieutenant
in 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment (known as 61st Regiment of
Foot) on 25th August, 1883 when they were in Karachi. The Regiment moved to
Poona in 1883, to Ahmednagar in 1885, back to Poona & Bombay in 1888 and
to Nasirabad in 1891. On 21st October, 1891 he was promoted to the rank of
Captain and probably went to Aden with the Regiment in 1893. In 1894 they
were in Devonport, and the record shows that he became Adjutant of 3rd battalion,
The Gloucestershire Regiment, a Militia Battalion in UK from 1896 until 1901.
He therefore missed the Boer War. After being Adjutant, he was an Instructor
at RMC Sandhurst. Promoted Lt. Colonel on 25th October, 1911 he was posted
to 1st battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment (known as 28th Regiment of
Foot) as Commanding Officer and took them to France on the outbreak of War.
He was mentioned in dispatches and awarded CB. Promoted Colonel on 25th
October, 1915, he commanded East Lancashire Reserve Division (Territorial
Force) form 1916 until 1919. He died on 27th May, 1919. It has been noted
rather dryly on his record that 'he was an artist, chiefly of military
subjects'. While he was a major he did the illustrations for an important
book called 'The Armies of India' written by Major G.F. MacMunn originally published
in London by A.& C. Black in 1911.
An interesting feature on these paintings is that the artist has got his
subjects to write their names themselves besides their painting. The artist
has signed the paintings 'ACL'.
The British Library has in their possession only prints, no watercolours.
