A View from the King’s Barracks, Fort St George

This work by Francis Swain Ward shows street scenes within Fort St George in Madras (now Chennai). First established in 1644, Fort St George was entirely rebuilt along more modern lines, following a brief occupation by the French (1746-8). After its recovery by the British, the remodelling was carried out between 1755 and 1783. In the middle of this period, in 1769, Haider Ali threatened it, prompting further revisions. It served as the British centre of military planning throughout the Mysore wars.