Chiswick Auctions is proud to present a recently discovered collection of watercolours by Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Crowdy Lovett (1862–1919) and his son, Nigel Lovett (1900–198?). Preserved by the family for over a century, these important works provide a unique and evocative record of military life in colonial India and early 20th-century Singapore.
Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Crowdy Lovett was a British military artist whose finely detailed watercolours capture both the landscapes of the British Empire and the richly varied uniforms of the Indian Army. His paintings are not only visually striking but also serve as important historical records. Born in Croydon, Lovett showed artistic promise from a young age, winning third prize in an art competition run by the Boy's Own Paper. He joined the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1882, beginning a military career that would take him across British India, from Karachi to Aden.
ALFRED CROWDY LOVETT (BRITISH, 1862-1919)
Indian Army soldiers, possibly the Mumbai Governors Indian bodyguard, Estimate £3,000 - £5,000
Lovett returned to active service during the Second Boer War and played a key role during the early campaigns of the First World War, including the battles of Mons and Ypres. Appointed commanding officer of the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment in 1911, he later led the 3rd Brigade during the Battle of Gheluvelt after two senior officers were wounded. For his service, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1914.
ALFRED CROWDY LOVETT (BRITISH, 1862-1919)
Bikaner Regiment Camel Corps, Estimate £2,000 - £3,000
Lovett’s most celebrated work, The Armies of India, was published in 1911. Illustrated by Lovett and described by Major G.F. MacMunn, the book offered a richly detailed visual account of the regiments that comprised Britain’s military presence in the Indian subcontinent. With a foreword by Field Marshal Earl Roberts, it aimed to inspire pride and confidence at a time when Britain’s imperial ambitions were facing competition from other European powers. Lovett’s watercolours, with their meticulously observed uniforms and regalia, brought these regiments to life and reflected the scope and complexity of the British Empire.
ALFRED CROWDY LOVETT (BRITISH, 1862-1919)
Aden Camel Corps, circa 1880s, Estimate £1,000 - £1,500
Lovett continued to paint throughout his military career, documenting soldiers, equipment and field uniforms with rare precision. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and remain significant records of late imperial military history. He passed away in 1919, having served as the commanding officer of the East Lancashire Reserve Division during the latter part of the war.
This exceptional collection will be included in Chiswick Auctions’ April 24th in our Old Masters & 19th Century art Auction, alongside further works by his son, Nigel Lovett. Nigel’s watercolours, produced during his time in Singapore, offer a captivating view of colonial life in Southeast Asia.
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NIGEL LOVETT (BRITISH, 1900-198?)
China Town, Shop House, Singapore, Estimate £300 - £500
Literature A.C Lovett, George Fletcher MacMunn, The Armies of India, Published by London, A. and C. Black, 1911; The armies of India : MacMunn, George Fletcher, Sir, 1869-1952 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Together, the works of Alfred and Nigel Lovett offer a rich and valuable archive of military and colonial history, capturing moments in time with clarity, artistry and authenticity.
For a complimentary valuation of your artworks, please contact our Pictures Department at pictures@chiswickauctions.co.uk or submit an online valuation.