Ootacamund, watercolour of the most popular hill station of the Madras Presidency, rpobably 1840s.

The 13½ x 8 ins watercolour is on stout paper and came to us in a folder of other watervolours by Major John Bellasis but it appears to be in another hand although very much in the Bellasis style. It is titled lower left Ootacamund, Neelgerrys followed by some somewhat unclear initials. Usually called Ooty the hill station is still a popular resort and was very the scene of a very lively social life in the days of the Raj. Assuming this was painted at the time of the other Bellasis paintings it will be from the 1840s. Several of the Bellasis watercolours remain on the website and can be seen by putting Bellasis in the search bpx on the home page. jul28/2