DANIELL, THOMAS (1749-1840), and DANIELL, WILLIAM (1769-1837)

DANIELL, THOMAS (1749-1840), and DANIELL, WILLIAM (1769-1837)

Landscape painters and engravers. In India 1786 to 1793.

Note: The historic collection of drawings by these artists in the India Office Library would all appear to have been made during the Daniells' visit to India or during their voyages. They are from three sources:

1. WD139; 140; 188; 189; 1294; 1295; 1479; 2064-2067; 2446-2481; 2775: 4295; 4301; 4507: miscellaneous provenance.

2. WD158-246, 363; 364: probably from the Bromley-Davenport collection, Capesthorne Hall (via Kegan Paul). Attributed to the Daniells by family tradition.

3. The remainder are from the collection of Sir Henry Russell (2nd Baronet, 1763-1852), Swallowfield Park, Berkshire. Russell had purchased them between 1840 and 1848 from the Daniell family (probably from Thomas Daniell's niece) after that artist's death. Some of the drawings were then mounted by J. Hogarth, c.1848, on Whatman paper with 1840-44 watermarks. At the same time, titles were copied from the backs of the drawings on to the mounts. In 1931 much of Sir Henry Russell's original collection was sold by the Russell family to Walker's Gallery, Bond Street, from which groups of Daniells’ drawings were acquired for the Library either directly or through Sotheby sales in 1961 and 1962, or later sources. For a discussion of the Russell drawings, see Hardie and Clayton, 8.

Drawings in groups 1 and 2 are identical in style with those in group 3. A Daniell attribution is further confirmed by a comparison of the subjects and dates inscribed on the drawings with entries in William Daniell's Indian journal.

In the present catalogue no attempt has been made to distinguish the hands of Thomas and William. They have therefore been grouped under a joint heading. William was only seventeen years old when he and his uncle set off on their tour 'up the country'. As his diary shows, many sketches were joint efforts, William using the ‘camera obscura’ and applying the simpler washes, his uncle doing the more sensitive drawing and colouring. William's drawings were, at first, far weaker than those of his uncle, but with constant practice his skill rapidly grew and by 1790 his work had greatly matured. See WD4295 for a drawing solely by William, as confirmed by his diary entry.

The numbers and titles inscribed in ink on the back of many drawings were almost certainly written by Thomas, those in pencil by William. For William's handwriting see Mss Eur E268 (presented by Colonel H.E.M. Cotton, together with WD2064-2067).

The landscape sketches have been arranged chronologically to give an idea of the itinerary of the artists. Dates have been deduced from inscriptions or from William's journal.

Thirty-two copies of inscriptions mainly from Bijaigarh (U.P.) and Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Ramgarh (Bihar), and twenty-one small notes and sketches of architectural details from Jaunpur (U.P.) and from Deo, Maner, Rohtasgarh, Sasaram (Bihar) occur in a collection of inscriptions presented to the Library by the Royal Asiatic Society, 18 February 1930.

A further one hundred and nineteen drawings from the Bromley-Davenport collection (source 2) were in the possession of the P. and O. Steam Navigation Company, London, but have now been mostly dispersed (Christie's, September 24th, 1996). Three hundred and thirty-seven drawings from the collection of Frederick Crace (1779-1859, interior decorator of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton) are in the possession of the Royal Institute of British Architects, London.

Bibliography: W. Foster, 'British artists in India, 1760-1820', ‘Walpole Society,’ XIX, 1931, 20-3; M. Hardie and Muriel Clayton, 'Thomas and William Daniell: their life and work', ‘Walker's Quarterly,’ (London), nos.35-36, 1932, containing portions of William Daniell's journal; T. Sutton, ‘The Daniells: artists and travellers’ (London, 1954); M. Shellim, ‘Oil Paintings of India and the East by Thomas ... and William Daniell’, London, 1979, and ‘Additional Oil Paintings’ etc., London, 1988; and six articles by Mildred Archer, 'The Daniells in India', ‘Country Life,’ 23 January 1958, 150-51; 'The Daniells in India and their influence on British architecture', ‘Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects,’ September 1960, 439-44; ‘The Daniells in India, 1786-1793’ (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1962); 'India Revealed: sketches by the Daniells', ‘Apollo,’ November 1962, 689-92; 'Picturesque India with the Daniells', ‘The Connoisseur,’ March 1963, 171-75; 'British painters of the Indian Scene', ‘Journal of the Royal Society of Arts,’ CXV, October 1967, 863-79.

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WD158-205; WD242-244; WD363-364; WD1015; WD1294-1295; WD1723-1727; WD2021-2027; WD2030; WD2065-2066; WD2196-2198; WD2446-2451; WD2775; WD3120-3126

81 drawings made in Calcutta and during a tour in upper India. 1786-91.

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WD206-239; WD241; WD547; WD1014; WD1016; WD1728-1730; WD2031; WD2199-2201; WD4506-4507

47 drawings made during a tour in south and western India. 1792-93.

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WD240; WD1731-1735; WD4300-4301; WD4439

9 drawings made on the voyages between China and India, and at St.Helena during the return voyage to England. 1784-85, and 1793-94.

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WD1714-1722

9 drawings. Purchased 8 November 1961.

These drawings, which had previously formed part of a large bound gold-edged volume, with titles neatly inscribed in a copper-plate hand, were some of the originals for engravings in ‘Oriental Scenery.’ The dates given in the catalogue entries below refer to the Daniells' visit.

It would seem that the Daniells first made rapid sketches in pencil or in pencil and wash on the spot. A selection of sketches for engraving was then made and these were carefully redrawn in greater detail. The present drawings are some of these. All but two are squared up to help in transferring the drawing to the plate.

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WD140; WD245-246; WD2028-2029; WD2032-2039; WD2064

14 miscellaneous sketches, chiefly landscapes.

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WD1751-1788

38 drawings of Indian sculptures and architectural details.

Purchased 6 January 1962.

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WD1789-2018; WD2068; WD4452

Miscellaneous drawings, 1786-93.

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WD1736; WD2019-2020

3 drawings of trees made in India between 1786 and 1793.

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WD1600-1601

2 drawings of soldiers of Tipu Sultan. 1792.

Pencil; 10.75 by 7.5 ins.

Purchased 7 March 1961.

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WD3120-3136

Seventeen drawings; figure studies, animals, a palanquin, musical instruments and landscapes made on the tours of India by the Daniells between 1786 and 1792.

Presented by Dr. W.G. and Mrs. M. Archer, 1971.

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WD1479; WD4295; WD4147

Two drawings by William Daniell and the original manuscript of his journal.

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P910-934

Formerly X432/1.

Booklet: Oriental Scenery. Twenty-four Views in Hindoostan, taken in the years 1789 and 1790; drawn and engraved by Thomas Daniell, and, with permission, respectfully dedicated to the Honourable Court of Directors of the East India Company. London, March 1, 1795. [1st Series].

Coloured aquatints by and after Thomas Daniell; published by Robert Bowyer, Historic Gallery, Pall Mall, London, 1795-97.

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P935-959

Booklet: Oriental Scenery. Twenty-four Views in Hindoostan, taken in the year 1792; drawn by Thomas Daniell, and engraved by himself and William Daniell; and, with permission, respectfully dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, President of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, Treasurer of the Navy, &c. &c. &c. London, August 1797. [2nd Series].

Coloured aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell after drawings by Thomas Daniell; published by Thomas Daniell, Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, 1797 98.

Formerly X432/2.

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X432/3

Thomas and William Daniell, ‘Oriental scenery [third series]. Twenty Four views in Hindoostan, drawn and engraved by Thomas and William Daniell, and, with permission, respectfully dedicated to the Right Honourable George Viscount Lewisham ... London June 1801’.

Coloured aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell after drawings by them both; published by Thomas Daniell, Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, 1801-1803.

Booklet: Oriental Scenery. Twenty-four Views in Hindoostan, drawn and engraved by Thomas & William Daniell, and, with permission, respectfully dedicated to the Right Honourable George Viscount Lewisham, President of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India. London, June 1801. [3rd Series].

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X432/4

Thomas and William Daniell, ‘Twenty Four landscapes. Views in Hindoostan drawn and engraved by Thomas and William Daniell, with permission respectfully dedicated to the Right Honourable George Obrien Earl of Egremont. London May 1807.’

Coloured aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell after drawings by them both; published by Thomas Daniell, Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, 1804-1805.

Booklet: Twenty-four Landscapes (the fourth series) Views in Hindoostan, drawn and engraved by Thomas and William Daniell, with permission, respectfully dedicated to the Right Honourable George O’Brien, Earl of Egremont. London, May 1807. [4th. Series].

This fourth series of ORIENTAL VIEWS is intended to convey, by examples selected from different parts of Hindoostan, a general idea of the landscape scenery of that extensive empire. Although it is true that the preceding publications must, necessarily have assisted in this illustration, the objects chiefly in view in those works were the representation of ancient and modern buildings, mythological sculpture, and other productions of similar art; but as the attention of the author in his travels through this country was directed with equal zeal to the forms and effects which nature presented in those regions, he collected various memoranda, which in this respect he flatters himself will be found to possess considerable interest; and as his anxious desire is to omit nothing that would tend to perfect his original plan of presenting to the British public a correct and comprehensive body of graphic information concerning India, both with respect to the appearance of nature, and the additions its surface has received from the adventitious changes communicated by the operations of industry and art, he thinks his undertaking would be incomplete without this exemplification of the landscape character of that most interesting portion of the Asiatic continent.

Conformable to this intention, the views contained in the present series commence with Cape Comorin, the southern extremity of Hindoostan; and thence, taken from different points, extending northward as far as the mountains of Serinagur. The alterations which take place in the face of nature in this extensive range of country will be equally evident and curious to remark; changes which are no less manifest in permanent objects than in the phenomena of vegetable life.

Of the present series a large portion consists of views taken from the scenery of the north; an arrangement occasioned not only by the grandeur and picturesque merits of that elevated region, but the consideration of its novelty: for when the author visited the mountains of Serinagur, those parts had never been explored by any European traveller; and owing either to the difficulty of access, or impediments arising from the political circumstances of the country, other information in the province of art is not likely to be received from that remote part of the northern extremity of India.

The drawings from which these views are engraved were taken in the months of July and August 1792.

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X432/5

Thomas and William Daniell, ‘Antiquities of India. Twelve [i.e. Twenty four] views [taken in the years 1790 and 1793] from the drawings of Thomas Daniell. Engraved by himself and William Daniell. Dedicated respectfuly to the Society of Antiquaries of London. London Octr 15 1799.’

Coloured aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell after drawings by Thomas Daniell; published by Thomas Daniell, Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, 1799-1808.

Booklet: Antiquities of India. Twelve Views from the Drawings of Thomas Daniell, R.A. & F.S.A., engraved by himself and William Daniell; taken in the years 1790 and 1793, dedicated respectfully to the Society of Antiquaries of London. London, Oct.15, 1799. Printed by T. Bensley, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, 1800. [5th. Series].

Antiquities of India, Part the Second; consisting of Twelve Views from the Drawings of Thomas Daniell, R.A. & F.S.A., engraved by himself and William Daniell; A.R.A., taken in the years 1790 and 1793, dedicated respectfully to the Society of Antiquaries of London. London, Dec. 1, 1804. T. Bensley, Ptiner, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, 1809.

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X432/6

Thomas Daniell, after James Wales, ‘Hindoo excavations in the mountain of Ellora, near Aurungabad in the Deccan, in twenty-four views respecfully dedicated to Sir Charles Warre Malet, Bart, Late the British Resident at Poonah. Engraved from the drawings of James Wales, by and under the direction of Thomas Daniell. London June 1st 1803.

Coloured aquatints by Thomas Daniell after James Wales; published by Thomas Daniell, Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, 1803.

[Titlepage: Hindoo Excavations in the Mountain of Ellora, near Aurangabad, in the Decan, in Twenty-Four Views. Respectfully dedicated to Sir Charles Warre Malet, Bart. Late the British Resident at Poonah. Engraved from the drawings of James Wales, by and under the direction of Thomas Daniell. London, June 1, 1804.]

[Titlepage of accompanying booklet: Hindoo Excavations in ihe Mountain of Ellora, near Aurungabad in the Decan, East Indies.]

[The Plans referred to in the accompanying descriptions will be found at P165-172.]

Ellora is an antient town of the Hindoos, distant from Aurungabad in a north-west direction about eighteen miles, and from Bombay nearly east about two hundred and thirty. The mountain in which these extraordinary efforts of human labour, accompanied by a very considerable degree of skill, is about a mile westward of the town of Ellora, of a semicircular form. The antiquity of these excavations, which unquestionably must be very great, is quite out of the reach of inquiry; the use of the greater number of them has evidently been for religious purposes. Many of the statues, basso-relievos, capitals of the pillars, and other decorative parts are executed in a very good style. The rock in which they are wrought is hard red granite; much of the sculpture is by time decayed, and many parts have designedly been mutilated, some of which have been repaired, though very clumsily. Several of the temples have been painted of various colours; and their ceilings, which have had suitable decorations, are now generally become so black with the smoak from fires which of late years have been made in them, that scarcely any design can, but in a few places, be traced. The drawings from which this series of views is engraved were presented to the publisher by Sir Charles Warre Malet, Bart. many years resident at the Durbar, or court of Poonah, who, on the death of Mr. Wales, became possessed of all his drawings. Sir Charles has given a full account of these excavations in the sixth Vol. of the Asiatic Researches, from which are extracted many parts of these descriptions; but as the plates accompanying it were etched from the sketches of an Indian artist, they will be found to differ in many respects from the drawings of Mr.Wales’s collection; to make which as correct as possible, no labour or expense has been spared.

These views were taken in the years 1792 and 1793.

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P395-396; T11333(1)

‘Views of the Taje Mahel at the City of Agra in Hindostan, taken in 1789.’

Two large aquatint views, of the Taj Mahal from the opposite bank of the river and from the garden side, engraved and published by Thomas and William Daniell, London, 1801, with an accompanying booklet (T11333) with text by Thomas Daniell, and a plan engraved by James Newton.

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F577; F669; F167

Two oil paintings by Thomas Daniell, and one by William Daniell.