Warren Hastings (1732 - 1818)

RA Collection: People and Organisations

RA Collections decolonial research: Reynolds’ sitters

Hastings sailed for Bengal in 1750 aged seventeen, having gained a junior position with the East India Company. He rose quickly through the company’s ranks and was instrumental in transforming it from a trading organisation into a military and naval power. Hastings briefly resigned from the East India Company in 1765 and returned to England for four years. During this time, his name appears in Sir Joshua Reynolds’ appointment book, probably recording the sittings for the portrait now at the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 4445).

Hastings returned to the East India Company and to India in 1769, first to Madras before returning to Bengal, where he oversaw the company’s affairs. Bengal was in effect under British control but government was conducted by Indian officials. Hastings felt the British ought to have greater involvement and set about instigating changes. By 1774, Hastings had acquired the new title of Governor-General with responsibility for supervising other British settlements in India. A Supreme Council was formed, members of which challenged Hastings. Bribery, extortion, corruption and other abuses of power by the British began to be exposed.

Reportedly encouraged by some of the new councillors in a bid to discredit Hastings, the Maharaja Nandakumar, made accusations against the Governor-General. He was in turn accused of forgery and hanged. This led to allegations that Hastings had procured a judicial murder. Meanwhile, multiple wars across India characterised Hastings’ time in charge. War stretched the company’s finances and Hastings demanded monies from Chait Singh, the Raja of Benaras, and requisitioned treasures from the Begums of Oudh.

When Hastings left India in 1785, it was at peace, but his conduct raised concerns about the standards of British rule in India. In 1786, the parliamentarian and lawyer Edmund Burke lead an impeachment process against Hastings. The trial lasted from 1788 to 1795 and caused widespread public debate though Hastings was acquitted.

Hastings can be connected to multiple Royal Academicians. Sir Joshua Reynolds painted his portrait in 1767-68 and Hastings also commissioned Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA to paint him in 1811, after his trial and in retirement aged seventy-nine (NPG 390). A pastel drawing on vellum by Lawrence is also at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG 3823). The Royal Academy Collection contains a mezzotint by William Say after this portrait, published 21 May 1813 (RA 10/688) and an engraving by William Bromley after a Thomas Stothard RA portrait, published on 29 June 1797 (RA 18/2893) at the height of Hastings’ notoriety. Paintings featuring Hastings were also made by Johann Zoffany RA, John Flaxman RA, Ozias Humphry RA, Richard Cosway RA and Thomas Banks RA. Hastings was an important patron of William Hodges RA, arranging for the East India Company to pay the artist a salary. Hodges spent six years in India from 1779 documenting its scenery and landmarks. In 1781, accompanied by Hastings, he visited the ancient city of Benares ( now Varanasi) which became the subject of his diploma work The Ghauts at Benares.