General Jean-Francois Allard with his family in Lahore attributed to Imam Baksh, 1838.
@Sothebys October 23 auction, which I i was privileged to get a preview thanks to Ursula Weekes
I was fascinated by the characterisation of his wife and children.
Allard fought in Napoleon’s army & was awarded Legion of Honour.
He went to Persia but didn’t get the rank of Colonel that he was promised.
Later the general was in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s service.
The lady in this portrait is Bannu Dei of Chamba, HP.
Allard fell in love with Bannu Dei & married her. They had 7 children. They accompanied him to France.
On the family’s return to Saint-Tropez in 1835, the general had an oriental-inspired Pan Deï Palais built as a token of his love for his wife. She died there in 1884.
He himself died in India as he ahd returned to serve Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He is buried in Lahore.
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