India - dream of a better life for Thomas Daniell. India - palaces, Hindu temples, Far East, oriental exoticism. India - shaken by wars, famines, poverty, devastation, social dislocation, resistance to the conquerors. India - object of desire for the British East India Company, trading company for the colonization of the Indian subcontinent.
In 1784, Thomas Daniell, a skilled painter of coats of arms and landscapes, receives permission from the East India Company to work in Calcutta as an engraver. India can be a good market for the artist: Pictures show the foreign country, create a link between the distant subcontinent and the British homeland, at the same time serve their desires and dreams of oriental exoticism, of magnificent buildings like from the fairy tales of 1001 nights. But pictures also show the new colonial architecture that is just emerging, the administrative buildings of the British and document the British claim to power in India. And last but not least, pictures decorate the residences of the British, the "expatriates", in Calcutta. For seven years, until 1793, Thomas Daniell and his 16-year-old nephew William Daniell traveled through India, which at that time meant: on foot or on horseback, with ox carts, in a boat, up the Ganges from Calcutta to Srinagar, from Madras across Mysore and finally to Bombay. Her sketches and watercolors show intimidatingly "modern" English barracks and government residences, depict exotic palaces, mausoleums, pagodas, monuments, ruins, temples, often transfigured into fairy tales and superficially nothing but picturesquely placed amidst the "exotic" Indian landscape. Hardly once do people appear in them, and if they do, then usually only dimly. In her city views, Calcutta is a generous, dazzlingly white city in the neoclassical style. No trace in her pictures of war and misery (but in the diaries of William Daniell).
Their Indian buildings, set as landmarks in the landscape, look like architectural models - and there's a reason for that: a camera obscura allowed them to view objects at great distances in detail and perspective - almost like taking a photograph. Through a hole in the wall of a locked, dark room or box, the light beam penetrates and "casts" the inverted but very accurate image onto the opposite wall or screen. This helps capture proportions, outlines and points correctly for the human eye on a surface, in 2D. The Daniells made a drawing right on the spot and produced oil paintings, engravings, and aquatint etchings, "painterly" ink-like etchings with strong color gradients, from some of the designs while still in Calcutta. Great examples of this process include Francisco de Goya's "Caprichos."
However, sales of their artwork did not go as well as expected in India, plus the Daniells were in failing health. Back in England, they created 144 aquatints beginning in 1795 for their "Oriental Scenery" project, an exclusive series distributed by subscription of two engravings every two months. The complete bound work of the "Oriental Scenery" with six volumes was not completed until 1808 and is still influential in the style of oriental decor.
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 - (MeisterDrucke-168212).jpg "View Taken on the Esplanade, Calcutta, plate I from")
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.jpg "Dusasumade Gaut, at Benares on the River Ganges, from")
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.jpg "The Chalees Satoon, in the Fort of Allahabad on the River Jumna, from")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-207478).jpg "The Great Pagoda, Tanjore, Plate XXIV from")
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.jpg "The Western Entrance of Shere Shah")
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.jpg "Ruins of the Naurattan, Sasaram, Bihar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Government House in Ft. St. George, Madras. 1804 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ramnugur, near Benares, on the River Ganges, from")
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.jpg "East View of the Forts Jellali and Merani, Muskat by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Jummah Musjed, Delhi, plate XXIII from")
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.jpg "The Council House, Calcutta, plate 29 from")
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.jpg "Jami Masjid, Delhi by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Taj Mahal at Agra, from")
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 Daniell published 1798 - (MeisterDrucke-174958).jpg "Western Entrance of Fort St. George, Madras, Plate 38 from")
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.jpg "The Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Travellers on a Path by the Kalyan Mahal, Gingee, Tamil Nadu by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Gate of a Mosque built by Hafiz Ramut, Pillibeat by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Part of the City of Patna, on the River Ganges, from")
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.jpg "The Chalees Satoon in the Fort of Allahabad on the River Jumna by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Hindu Temples at Agori, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Hindoo Temples at Bindrabund on the River Jumna by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Charles Warre Malet concluding treaty with Peshwa of Maratha Empire in 1790 in Durbar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Street Scene, from")
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.jpg "South East View of Fort St. George, Madras, plate 33 from")
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.jpg "Port of Cheringhee, Calcutta, Plate 32 from")
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.jpg "The Mosque at Juanpore Built by Sultan Hussain Sherki (Taken in December 1789) by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "View in the Fort, Madura, Plate 14 from Part 2 of")
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.jpg "View of the Canton River, near Whampoa, China by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Mausoleum of Sultan Purveiz, near Allahabad by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ramnurgur, near Benares on the River Ganges, 1796 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "An Ancient Hindoo Temple in the Fort of Rotas, Bahar, plate 12 from")
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.jpg "Mausoleum of Sultan Purveiz, near Allahabad, from")
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.jpg "The Hongs at Canton from the South East, with a Regatta on the Pearl River by Thomas Daniell")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1099309).jpg "The Hongs, Canton by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ruins of the Ancient City of Gour, Formerly on the Banks of the River Ganges, from")
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.jpg "Farmhouse, River and Barge by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Assembly Rooms on the Race Ground near Madras, plate 37 from")
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.jpg "Dasasvamedha Ghat, Benares by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Inside Of Kanaree Cave At Salsette by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Great Bull, A Hindoo Idol, At Tanjore, plate XXII from")
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.jpg "The Mausoleum of Mucdoom Shah Dowlut at Moneah by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "N.W. View of Rotas Ghur, Bahar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Qutb Minar, Delhi by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Mausoleum of Makhdum Shah Daulat, Maner, Bihar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Writers")
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.jpg "Gate Leading to a Musjed at Chunar Ghur, plate 25 from")
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.jpg "Fakir")
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.jpg "Temple, Fountain and Cave in Sezincote Park by Thomas Daniell")
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_pub_by_Edward_Orme_-_(MeisterDrucke-1105840).jpg "The Bridge at Juonpore, Bengal, engraved by H. Merke, pub. by Edward Orme 1804 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Interior of the Palace, Madura, plate XV from")
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.jpg "A Hindu Temple in the Fort of Rohtas, Bihar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Part of the Palace, Madura, plate XIII from Oriental Scenery, published 1797 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Atala Mosque, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Hindoo Temple near Currah, on the River Ganges, from")
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.jpg "Hindu Temple at Bindrabund on the Jumna, 1797, 1922 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Purana Qila, Delhi by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Sacred Tree of the Hindoos, at Gyah, Bahar, from")
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.jpg "Eastern Gate of the Jummah Musjid at Delhi, from")
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.jpg "The Gateway of the Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Hindu Temple in the Fort of the Rohtas, Bihar, India, c. 1790 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Hindoo Temples at Bindrapund, on the River Jumna, from")
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.jpg "Hindoo Temple at Madura, plate XVI from Oriental Scenery, published 1798 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Part of the City of Patna, on the River Ganges, plate 10 from Part 1 of")
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.jpg "The Armenian Bridge, near St. Thomas")
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.jpg "Indian Temple, Said to Be the Mosque of Abo-ul-Nabi, Muttra by Thomas Daniell")
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![Ramnagar, Near Benares [Varanasi], Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell](/kunstwerke/300px/Thomas_Daniell_-_Ramnagar_Near_Benares_Varanasi_Uttar_Pradesh_c_1788-9_-_(MeisterDrucke-831078).jpg "Ramnagar, Near Benares [Varanasi], Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
![Ramnagar, Near Benares [Varanasi], Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell](/kunstwerke/400w/Thomas_Daniell_-_Ramnagar_Near_Benares_Varanasi_Uttar_Pradesh_c_1788-9_-_(MeisterDrucke-831078).jpg)
 at Secundr - (MeisterDrucke-254053).jpg "Gate of the Tomb of the Emperor Akbar (1542-1605), at Secundra, Agra, from")
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.jpg "Dusasumade Gaut, at Bernares on the Ganges by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Tomb of a Moorish Lady, Bengal, engraved by Joseph Constantine Stadler, pub. by Edward Orme, 1803 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Calcutta from the River Hoogly: Gentoo Buildings from the Views of Calcutta by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Mausoleum of Mucdoom Shah Dowlut, at Moneah on the River Soane, from")
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.jpg "The Panch Mahal Gate, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ruins on Pir Pahar, near Monghy, Bihar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Taj Mahal, at Agra by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Tiger Hunting in the East Indies by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ruins of the Palace, Madura, plate 17 from Part 2 of Oriental Scenery, engraved by the artist and William Daniell, 1798 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ruins of the Naurattan, Sasaram, Bihar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Mausoleum of Sultan Chusero, near Allahabad, from")
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.jpg "Eastern Gate of the Jummah Musjid, Delhi by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Raje Gaut, The Principal Road Up To Rotas Ghur, Bahar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "View on the Chitpore Road, Calcutta, Plate II from")
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.jpg "Boats near a Dutch Folly Fort, Canton by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Remains of an Ancient Building near Firoz Shah")
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.jpg "Ramnugur, Near Bernares, on the River Ganges by Thomas Daniell")
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 pub by Edward Orme (1774-c1820) 1804 - (MeisterDrucke-191991).jpg "A Pagoda, Engraved by Joseph Constantine Stadler, Published by Edward Orme, 1804 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Fishing Boat with Small Craft Alongside by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "North West View of Rotas Ghur, Bahar, from")
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.jpg "The North West View of Rohtasgarh, Bihar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Gate of the Tomb of the Emperor Akbar by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Government House, Fort St. George, plate 35 from")
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.jpg "The Mausoleum of Prince Khusrau, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Dusasumade Gaut, at Benares by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "North East View of the Cotsea Bhaug, on the River Jumna, Delhi, from Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan, 1795 by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "View Taken on the Esplanade, Calcutta by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "View in the Fort of Trichinopoly, Plate 47 from")
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.jpg "Ramnugur near Benares on the river Ganges by Thomas Daniell")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1172294).jpg "The Entrance to a Cave Near Gyah by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "The Rope Bridge at Srinaga by Thomas Daniell")
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.jpg "Ship,")
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.jpg "The Rope Bridge, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh by Thomas Daniell")
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