Portrait of Charles and John Sealy

This portrait was painted in the Indian port- city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1773. Charles Sealy (on the left) worked there in the judicial court established by the East India Company. His brother John was captain of one of the Company’s ships, the Northington. This powerful private company made its fortune by trading spices, cotton, silk and tea. It relied on forced labour and also carried enslaved people from Africa to Asia. By the 18th century, it had effectively become the colonial ruler of large parts of the Indian subcontinent.

The brothers were painted by Tilly Kettle, the first professional British artist established in India, during one of John’s visits to Calcutta. The portrait follows the traditional poses and format designed to show English gentlemen on their estates. Here, only the palm trees hint at the Indian setting.