Tipu Sultan still a revered leader in Britain
Twenty-four paintings glorifying Tipu Sultan’s battle for sovereignty of Mysore and vanquishing the British at the battle of Pollilur and of Hyder Ali fetched 1,224,184 dollars at a leading auctioner in Sotheyby.
The paintings of Polliur battle in 1780 were profusely admired by the buyers as the East India Company army suffered high casualties, representing one of the worst defeats suffered on the subcontinent.
The 24 paintings fetched 769,250 pounds (1,224,184 dollars) at Sotheby.
After Polliur battle the British army went on to defeat Tipu Sultan at the battle of Seringapatam on May 4, 1799.
Head of Sotheby’s Middle East Department said: “Tipu Sultan was an extraordinary individual and an Indian national hero.”.
The paintings were collected by Captain John William Freese in 1802.
