A museum curator is sorting British pictures of 1857 by the purpose t…

A museum curator is sorting British pictures of 1857 by the purpose they served. In which group should she place the painting "Relief of Lucknow" by Thomas Jones Barker?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Pictures commemorating the British heroes who saved the English

Option (1) Pictures expressing the trauma and suffering of English women — Incorrect. Pictures of trauma and suffering grew from tales of violence against women and children. Barker's painting shows the moment of a rescue.

Option (2) Pictures commemorating the British heroes who saved the English — Correct. Barker's painting commemorates the British heroes who saved the English at Lucknow. It celebrates Campbell's entry and the triumph of British power.

Option (3) Pictures showing the British taking revenge on the rebels — Incorrect. Pictures of revenge show the punishment of rebels. Barker's work shows the relief of a besieged garrison.

Option (4) Pictures meant to make the British public fear the rebels — Incorrect. Pictures meant to frighten the public stress the danger from the rebels. Barker's painting reassures the public that the trouble is over.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.1 Celebrating the saviours
British pictures offer a variety of images that were meant to provoke a range of different emotions and reactions. Some of them commemorate the British heroes who saved the English and repressed the rebels. “Relief of Lucknow”, painted by Thomas Jones Barker in 1859, is an example of this type. When the rebel forces besieged Lucknow, Henry Lawrence, the Commissioner of Lucknow, collected the Christian population and took refuge in the heavily fortified Residency. Lawrence was killed but the Residency continued to be defended under the command of Colonel Inglis. On 25 September James Outram and Henry Havelock arrived, cut through the rebel forces, and reinforced the British garrisons. Twenty days later Colin Campbell, who was appointed as the new Commander of British forces in India, came with his forces and rescued the besieged British garrison. In British accounts the siege of Lucknow became a story of survival, heroic resistance and the ultimate triumph of British power.”

A museum curator is sorting British pictures of 1857 by the purpose they served. In which group should she place the painting "Relief of Lucknow" by Thomas Jones Barker?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Pictures commemorating the British heroes who saved the English

Option (3) Pictures showing the British taking revenge on the rebels — Incorrect. Pictures of revenge show the punishment of rebels. Barker's work shows the relief of a besieged garrison.