Art Funded by you

Colonel Mordaunt's Cock Match

Johann Zoffany, 1784–1786

One of the most striking conversation pieces of the eighteenth century, and quite unlike any produced in England. It reveals a great deal to us about the Anglo-Indian relationship in the heyday of the East India Company. The picture represents the Nawab of Oudh and a group of European adventurers who were freeloading at his court at Lucknow. Many of the Europeans at that time led half-Indian and half-European lives and most had Indian wives. Equally, Indians themselves were attracted by European life and arts. At this brilliant and dissipated court Europeans and Indians mingled on far more equal terms than in Calcutta.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Colonel Mordaunt's Cock Match, 1784–1786

Date supported

1994

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

106 x 150 cm

Grant

50000

Total cost

434292

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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