This artwork depicts a sipahi (sepoy) beside a container of rifle cartridges, referring to the immediate cause of the 1857 uprising in the Bengal Army of the East India Company. The controversy centred on the new Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle, which required soldiers to bite open greased paper cartridges before loading. Reports circulated in early 1857 that the cartridges were greased with a mixture of cow and pig fat. For Hindu soldiers, contact with cow fat violated religious restrictions, while Muslim soldiers regarded pig fat as forbidden. The belief that the cartridges were intentionally designed to undermine religious observance spread rapidly through the ranks.
Historical records show that sepoys repeatedly raised concerns with British officers at multiple cantonments, including Barrackpore, Meerut, Dum Dum and Ambala. Official inquiries attempted to reassure soldiers, but mistrust persisted. The first major incident occurred when Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, attacked two British officers on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore. A broader refusal to use the cartridges followed. On 24 April 1857 at Meerut, eighty five soldiers of the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry declined to accept the cartridges during a drill parade. They were arrested, tried by a military court and sentenced to terms of hard labour. Their punishment created widespread anger among fellow sepoys.
On 10 May 1857, sepoys at Meerut revolted, attacking European officers and marching overnight to Delhi. Their arrival in the city marked the beginning of the wider rebellion, as they declared the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II their ruler. The cartridge issue did not cause the rebellion alone, but it triggered the first open acts of mutiny, transforming long standing grievances over pay, service conditions, discriminatory promotion policies and annexation of Indian states into a widespread uprising.
The cartridge controversy remains one of the most extensively documented catalysts of 1857, referenced in British military reports, the proceedings of the Hunter Committee, correspondence of Company officials, and later nationalist and academic histories. It is widely acknowledged as the spark that ignited a conflict which reshaped the political future of the subcontinent and ultimately led to the dissolution of the East India Company and the beginning of direct Crown rule in India.
Every artwork in this collection is available in four thoughtfully selected display formats, designed to complement a wide range of interiors while maintaining a consistent standard of quality and finish.
Our framed canvas prints offer a subtle, tactile texture that adds depth and presence to each piece, professionally stretched over FSC certified wooden bars for a clean, gallery-ready presentation. For a lighter and more flexible option, our museum-quality paper posters can be paired with magnetic wooden hangers crafted from smooth pine, allowing the artwork to be displayed or changed with ease while remaining securely held.
For a more traditional presentation, our premium wooden frames are made from responsibly sourced oak or ash, chosen for their natural grain and durability, and finished with shatterproof plexiglass for long-term protection. Those seeking a contemporary look can opt for our aluminium frames, combining slim black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a crisp, understated finish.
All prints are produced using high-quality, archival-grade inks on FSC certified papers. Each piece is made individually to order, helping minimise unnecessary waste while ensuring careful attention to quality and consistency. Your artwork arrives ready to hang or assemble, crafted to be enjoyed for years to come.
