Here is one more lesson I developed for the Asian Art Museum's curriculum. This time it's a one-day lesson with a painting title bound to draw student interest. And once that interest is attracted, it's an excellent way to analyze perspectives of British imperialism in India. To access teacher and student materials associated with this lesson, follow this link.
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Colonel
Mordaunt’s Cock Match, after a painting by John Zoffany (1733-1810). Etching by Richard
Earlom, British (1743-1822), 1794.
Hand-colored mezzotint on paper. Asian
Art Museum, from the collection of William K. Ehrenfeld,
M.D., 2005.64.653.
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Title: Early
British Imperialism In India
Objective: To
explore imperialism from the perspectives of both the colonizers and the
colonized through art.
Duration: One
50 minute class period
Resource Type:
Lesson or Activity
Region: South
Asia
Topic: Trade
and Exchange; Colonialism
Grade Level:
High School (10th Grade)
Curriculum Unit:
Deconstructing Perspectives of Colonial South Asia
Keyword Results:
imperialism, British imperialism, early British imperialism, India,
Lucknow, Colonel Mordaunt, cock match, cock fighting, Johann Zoffany, John
Zoffany, Maharaja: The Splendor of
India’s Royal Courts, colonialism, British colonialism
Materials:
Lesson Plan “Early British Imperialism in India”
PowerPoint Presentation “Early British Imperialism in India”
Student Handout 1:
Analyzing a Primary Source
Teacher Key 1:
Analyzing a Primary Source
Student Handout 2:
Context for Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match from 1794
Student Handout 3:
Investigating Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Matches
Teacher Key 2:
Investigating Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Matches
Standards:
Content Standards (California): HSS 10.4:
Students analyze patterns of global change in the era of New Imperialism
in at least two of the following regions or countries: Africa, Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin
America, and the Philippines.
10.4.3: Explain imperialism from
the perspective of the colonizers and the colonized and the varied immediate
and long-term responses by the people under colonial rule.
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| Warren Hastings, Esq., Governor General of Bengal & c. & c. By Sir Joshua Reynolds, British (1723-1792) and Thomas Watson, British (1743-1781), 1777. Ink on paper. Asian Art Museum, from the collection of William K. Ehrenfeld, M.D., 2005.64.79 |
LESSON PROCEDURE:
Introduction (10 min): “Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match” from 1794
Project the PowerPoint Early British Imperialism in India.
Have students look at the image of Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match from
1794 and begin Student Handout 1: Analyzing a Primary Source by completing
the “What do you see” box. Read the quote below, then fill in the rest
of the boxes together as a class.
Read to Class:
Excerpt from Maya Jasanoff’s Edge of Empire
“At first glance, the painting plainly seems to
illustrate a world of luxury, lassitude, pleasure, and indulgence. This is an image, above all, of the
exotic: of Europeans ‘going native’ and
of decadent Asians, of lush temptations and shameless self-indulgence. But it is easy to forget, looking at the
picture today, just how familiar it all would have been to the people who appear
in it (most of whom are identifiable historical figures). They were not merely playing at being
exotic. Around the time this was
painted, in fact, Colonel Mordaunt’s cockfights-- to say nothing of banquets,
festivals weddings, and many other occasions where Europeans and Asians came
together—were practically weekly events.”
Small Group Activity (15 min): Context for “Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match”
from 1794
From the PowerPoint show students the Nawab of Awadh
and Warren Hastings, the two patrons of “Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match” from
1794. Distribute Student Handout 2: Context for Colonel
Mordaunt’s Cock Match from 1794. Have
students read aloud in pairs.
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Colonel
Mordaunt’s Cock Match. ca
1850. India; Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh State. Opaque watercolors on cloth. Asian
Art Museum, from the collection of William K. Ehrenfeld,
M.D. 1988.23.2.
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Class Discussion (25 min): Investigating “Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock Match”
from 1794 and 1850
From the PowerPoint show “Colonel Mordaunt’s Cock
Match” from 1794.
Discuss:
What do you see in the painting now that you didn’t
see before?
Can you identify the Nawab of Awadh, Colonel
Mordaunt, and Johann Zoffany in the painting?
How does this change your understanding of the painting?
How does this painting portray Europeans and Indians in
India?
Show the last PowerPoint image, “Colonel Mordaunt’s
Cock Match” from 1850. Explain to
students this is a later Indian interpretation of Zoffany’s painting.
Discuss:
How are these two images similar? How are they different?
What did you first notice in this image?
Who do you think are the most important people in
this image? How does the artist show
you?
How does this painting portray Europeans and Indians
in India?
Homework: Distribute Student
Handout 3: Investigating Colonel
Mordaunt’s Cock Matches.
This lesson was created by Thatcher Palmer, a history
teacher at the Education Academy of Ygnacio Valley High School, and edited by
Michelle Baird, in partnership with the UC Berkeley History-Social Science
Project and the Asian Art Museum’s Maharaja:
The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts.
