early life and education

lieutenant colonel valentine blacker, a renowned artist and military officer, was born in armagh, northern ireland in 1778. his family had an ancestral home in the barony of oneilland east. blacker's early life is not well-documented, but it is known that he obtained a commission in the madras cavalry in 1798.

military career

• 1799: made a cornet in the madras cavalry
• 1800: aide-de-camp to colonel stevenson in the wayanad district
• 1810: quartermaster-general
• 1817: served in deccan, promoted to lieutenant-colonel
• 1823: took over as surveyor general of india from john hodgson

artistic contributions

blackers' artistic talents are evident in his watercolor paintings, showcasing his mastery of color and light. some notable works include: lieutenant colonel valentine blacker's plan of the operations of the reserve of the deckan army (1818), a watercolor piece depicting the operations of the reserve of the deckan army under brigadier general thomas munro.

• plan of the operations (29 x 20 cm, kalakriti archives, hyderabad, india, watercolour)
• plan of the environs (kalakriti archives, hyderabad, india, paper)
• plan of the attack (28 x 26 cm, kalakriti archives, hyderabad, india, watercolour)

legacy and death

blacker's contributions to the trigonometrical survey of india are a testament to his scientific approach. he was stationed in calcutta from 1823 until his death from a fever in 1826. blacker was buried in south park street cemetery, calcutta. notable collections featuring blacker's work:

• the museum northern ireland civil service art collection (united kingdom)
• la academia real de ulster (belfast, reino unido)

blackers' artistic legacy continues to be celebrated through his works, showcasing the intersection of art and military service.