Raden Saleh, témoin de la société arménienne de Java
In: Archipel, Band 76, Heft 1, S. 205-250
The patient reconstitution of the works of the painter Raden Saleh carried out by Archipel since 1997 has revealed an unexpected large number of canvases. Besides already known hunting scenes, fights of wild animals and some portraits, a good number of other paintings by this artist were found. Among them are the portraits of two Armenian personalities of Java : the benefactor Mariam Haroutunian and the merchant Eghiazar Gasparian alias Eleazar Gregory Gasper. The first painting is in the museum of New-Julfa near Isfahan and the other in a private collection in The Netherlands. These portraits, done between 1853 and 1863, are here used as a starting point to scrutinize the Armenian community in Java, a late extension of the trading network based in New-Julfa. Originally specialized in the sugar trade, the trading company founded by E. G. Gasper (1808-1859) born in New-Julfa and settled in Batavia in 1853 survived in this city for three generations. Genealogies and other available documents show a constant overlapping of family and business relationships as well as strong community solidarities. These played a conclusive role in the success of these enterprises in the Indies.