Oriental Scenery
1795-1808
Uncle and nephew Thomas and William Daniell came from a family of English painters and printmakers. The elder Daniell, a painter trained at the Royal Academy Schools, took over his orphaned nephew’s education, travelling with William aged 16 to India in 1784.
In Calcutta the Daniells produced a small series of images with the assistance of local engravers, which appealed to European expatriates living in the rapidly expanding city. The success of this venture persuaded Thomas and William to make a sketching tour of northern India and the Himalayas, and then another through southern and western India in response to increased European interest in the region during the Third Mysore War (1789-92).
The Daniells returned to England, and between 1795 and 1808 published their masterpiece Oriental Scenery in six parts comprising 144 fine hand-coloured aquatints by William after his and his uncle’s sketches with those of Ellora executed by James Wales. The series was a phenomenal success; in both India and England it received glowing reviews and thirty sets alone were purchased by the East India Company at approximately £20,000 a set in today’s money.
Following on their triumph, the Daniells published Views in Egypt in 1808–9 and Picturesque Voyage to India, by Way of China in 1810. Both Thomas and William remained for their lifetimes artists in great demand; Thomas was elected to the Royal Academy, and later too William, who further produced his great solo series A Voyage Round Britain from 1813-25.
The views of India executed by the Daniells are some of the very best topographical works ever produced of the country, representing the zenith of achievement in aquatint and remain some of the most sought after images of the country today.
Below are a few examples from this collection. Please click on an image to see it in high-resolution with details of the work itself. For the full list of original antique Daniells aquatints available, please do contact us.
![Daniell: Bihar. 1796. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1316] Bihar: Akshaya Vat. The sacred banyan tree at the Vishnupada temple at Gaya.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1316w.jpg?w=608&h=464&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Gharapuri Island. 1800. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1295] Elephanta Caves: Entrance to the caves at Gharapuri island in the harbour of Bombay (Mumbai).](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1295w.jpg?w=304&h=229&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Salsette. 1800. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1299] Kanheri Caves at Salsette: Part of the caves carved out by Buddhist monks, with the artist sketching in the foreground.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1299w.jpg?w=304&h=231&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Allahabad. 1795. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1303] Allahabad: Rani-ka-Mahal or Queen's pavilion within the palace at the Fort of Allahabad.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1303w.jpg?w=308&h=232&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Delhi. 1801. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1297] Delhi: Mausoleum of Amir Khusero (Chaunsath Kambha) is actually the tomb of Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Ataga Khan.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1297w.jpg?w=308&h=229&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Bihar. 1796. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1314] Bihar: Rohtasgarh Fort. North West view over the fort and the Kaimur Hills with the Harsichandra temple in the distance.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1314w.jpg?w=604&h=465&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Allahbad. 1795. An original hand coloured antique aquatint. 24" x 19". [INDp1341] Mausoleum of Sultan Purveiz near Allahabad: Part of the burial complex at Khusrau Bagh, and may actually be the tomb of the sultan's sister Nisar Begum.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1341w.jpg?w=451&h=348&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Maharashtra. 1803. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1317] Maharashtra: Indra Sabha Jain Temple. Looking outward from the Ellora caves.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1317w.jpg?w=461&h=348&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Bihar. 1795. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1298] Bihar: Rohtasgarh Fort in the Kaimur Hills. View on the principal road.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1298w.jpg?w=454&h=338&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Salsette. 1799. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1301] Kanheri Caves at Salsette: The excavated Chaitya, shrine or prayer hall, of one of the main ancient Buddhist caves.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1301w.jpg?w=458&h=338&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Maharashtra. 1803. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1318] Maharashtra: Indra Sabha Jain Temple. The entrance at the Ellora caves.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1318w.jpg?w=608&h=465&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Agori. 1796. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1315] Agori: The temples of Kali and a great Banyan tree on the river Son.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1315w.jpg?w=304&h=233&ssl=1)
![Daniell: Bihar. 1800. An original colour antique aquatint. 25" x 19". [INDp1300] Bihar: Part of the Interior of Umnga Surya Temple at Deo.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/indp1300w.jpg?w=304&h=228&ssl=1)