Thomas Daniell and his nephew William
 
36 years old Thomas Daniell and his nephew William, a lad of sixteen, sailed out from Gravesend in April 1785, destined for the East where they were to spend the next eight years. Of humble origins, they arrived in Calcutta via China early in seventeen eighty-six, looking for wealthy patrons, and to explore the sublime, the exotic and the picturesque country. Their spirit was symptomatic of the first stirring of the romantic movement of the time.
Some of the earliest glimpses of the city of Calcutta - its many new paladian building, roads and river ghats, temple and churches, and forms of transport old and new- are captured in Thomas Daniell's twelve coloured aquatints, Views of Calcutta. " The Lord be praised at length, I have completed my twelve views. The fatigue I have experienced... has almost worn me out. I am advised to make a trip of up the country...", wrote Thomas in November 1788.
A tour of India was a formidable undertaking in those days, but the two Daniells were undaunted. They covered the length and breadth of India in palanquins and bullock carts, on horseback, on foot and on boat, painting Oriental Scenery wherever they went.
The Daniells' magnificent views of Indian landscapes and antiquities in both oils and aquatint made an immediate impact on the British elite. Stylistically correct and conventional as they were, their magnitude and novelty charmed the romantically inclined for whom the Graeco-Roman culture was effete. Motifs were freely borrowed from Oriental Scenery to decorate wallpapers and ceramics, while the flamboyant domes and minarets of the Royal Pavilion extravaganza at Brighton were directly inspired by the Daniells' accurate depiction of Indian architecture. On the whole, their Oriental Scenery largely contributed to the British image of India as a land of romance and glory. Indeed, the Daniells have continued to feed the Raj nostalgia to this day.

The Victoria Memorial has the largest collection of the works by the two Daniells.
 Below are the Aquatints made by Thomas and William Daniell in the late eighteenth century.
 AQUATINTS
     
Part of Chowringhee, Calcutta
 Dashasamedh Ghat at Benares, on the Ganges
 Eastern gate of the Jumha Musjid at Delhi (1795)
     
 Part of the city of Patna, on the river Ganges
 South-east view of Fort St. George, Madras
 Palace of Nawab Shuja-ud- -daula at Lucknow
     
 The Chitpore Road.
 Council House Street
 St. John's Church (1788) by T. Daniell
     
 The Mayor's Court and Writers' Building.
 Gobindaram Mitra's Temple.
 Old Court House Street.
     
 Riverside view of the Ganges.
 The Supreme Court
 Hindoo Temples at Brindabund on the river Jumna (1795)

A State Procession in India
A State Procession in India
Thomas Daniell and William Daniell (attributed to)
Allington Hunting Party in India
Allington Hunting Party in India
Thomas Daniell or William Daniell
Bridge near Rajmahal, Bihar
Bridge near Rajmahal, Bihar
Thomas Daniell
Hindoo Temples at Bindrabund, East Indies
Hindoo Temples at Bindrabund, East ...
Thomas Daniell
Idgah at Amroha
Idgah at Amroha
Thomas Daniell
Indian Scene: Figures and a Camel at a Well
Indian Scene: Figures and a Camel ...
Thomas Daniell
Inside of the Kanaree Caves at Salsette
Inside of the Kanaree Caves at ...
Thomas Daniell
Landscape in Northern India
Landscape in Northern India
Thomas Daniell
Puja Performed at a Temple of Shiva
Puja Performed at a Temple of Shiva
Thomas Daniell
Rope Bridge Over the Alakananda River at Srinagar, Garhwal
Rope Bridge Over the Alakananda ...
Thomas Daniell
Sher Shah's Mausoleum, Sasaram
Sher Shah's Mausoleum, Sasaram
Thomas Daniell
Sir Charles Warre Malet, Concluding a Treaty in 1790 in Durbar with the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire
Sir Charles Warre Malet, ...
Thomas Daniell
The Fort of Vellore in the Carnatic, India
The Fort of Vellore in the ...
Thomas Daniell


Interior of the Palace Madura Plate XV from "Oriental Scenery " Published 1798
Interior of the Palace Madura Plate XV from "Oriental Scenery " Published 1798
Thomas Daniell
Pinnace Sailing Down the Ganges Past Monghyr Fort C1791 (Oil on Canvas)
Pinnace Sailing Down the Ganges Past Monghyr Fort C1791 (Oil on Canvas)
Thomas Daniell
The Taj Mahal at Agra from "Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan" 1796
The Taj Mahal at Agra from "Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan" 1796
Thomas Daniell
The Western Entrance of Shere Shah's Fort Delhi
The Western Entrance of Shere Shah's Fort Delhi
Thomas Daniell
A Baolee Near the Old City of Delhi Plate Xviii from Part 4 of 'Oriental Scenery' Pub 1802
A Baolee Near the Old City of Delhi Plate Xviii from Part 4 of 'Oriental Scenery' Pub 1802
Thomas Daniell
Dasasvamedha Ghat Benares Uttar Pradesh C1788-89 (Coloured Aquatint)
Dasasvamedha Ghat Benares Uttar Pradesh C1788-89 (Coloured Aquatint)
Thomas Daniell
Hindu Temple in the Fort of the Rohtas Bihar India (W/C on Paper)
Hindu Temple in the Fort of the Rohtas Bihar India (W/C on Paper)
Thomas Daniell
The Armenian Bridge Madras From 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan' engraved by
The Armenian Bridge Madras From 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan' engraved by
Thomas Daniell
East View of the Forts Jellali and Merani Muskah Arabia June 1793
East View of the Forts Jellali and Merani Muskah Arabia June 1793
Thomas Daniell
Main Entrance of the Jami Mosque Jaunpur 1789 (W/C over Graphite on Wove Paper)
Main Entrance of the Jami Mosque Jaunpur 1789 (W/C over Graphite on Wove Paper)
Thomas Daniell
Ruins of the Palace of Madra
Ruins of the Palace of Madra
Thomas Daniell
View Taken on the Esplanade Calcutta Plate I from "Oriental Scenery" Published 1797
View Taken on the Esplanade Calcutta Plate I from "Oriental Scenery" Published 1797
Thomas Daniell
The Assembly Rooms on the Race Ground Near Madras Plate 37 from 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four…
The Assembly Rooms on the Race Ground Near Madras Plate 37 from 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four…
Thomas Daniell
Western Entrance of Fort St George Madras
Western Entrance of Fort St George Madras
Thomas Daniell
Gate Leading to a Mosque Chunargarh Uttar Pradesh (Coloured Aquatint)
Gate Leading to a Mosque Chunargarh Uttar Pradesh (Coloured Aquatint)
Thomas Daniell
Ruins of the Ancient City of Gour Formerly on the Banks of the River Ganges from 'Oriental…
Ruins of the Ancient City of Gour Formerly on the Banks of the River Ganges from 'Oriental…
Thomas Daniell
A Pagoda Engraved by Joseph Constantine Stadler (Fl1780-1812) Pub by Edward Orme (1774-C1820)…
A Pagoda Engraved by Joseph Constantine Stadler (Fl1780-1812) Pub by Edward Orme (1774-C1820)…
Thomas Daniell
View in the Fort Madura Plate 14 from Part 2 of 'Oriental Scenery' Engraved by the Artist and…
View in the Fort Madura Plate 14 from Part 2 of 'Oriental Scenery' Engraved by the Artist and…
Thomas Daniell
Sir Charles Warre Malet in 1790 Concluding a Treaty in Durbar with Souae Madarow
Sir Charles Warre Malet in 1790 Concluding a Treaty in Durbar with Souae Madarow
Thomas Daniell
Sir Charles Warre Malet British Resident at Court of Poona in 1790 Concluding a Treaty in Durbar
Sir Charles Warre Malet British Resident at Court of Poona in 1790 Concluding a Treaty in Durbar
Thomas Daniell
Part of City of Patna on River Ganges from 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Part of City of Patna on River Ganges from 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Thomas Daniell
Chaunsath Khamba Nizamuddin New Delhi (Coloured Aquatint)
Chaunsath Khamba Nizamuddin New Delhi (Coloured Aquatint)
Thomas Daniell
Whampoa Pagoda 1810 (Engraving)
Whampoa Pagoda 1810 (Engraving)
Thomas Daniell
The Rope Bridge at Serinagur C1800 (Oil on Canvas)
The Rope Bridge at Serinagur C1800 (Oil on Canvas)
Thomas Daniell
Temple Fountain and Cave in Sezincote Park 1819 (Oil on Canvas)
Temple Fountain and Cave in Sezincote Park 1819 (Oil on Canvas)
Thomas Daniell
View of Some-Cheon on French Island Taken from Danes Island China 1793-94
View of Some-Cheon on French Island Taken from Danes Island China 1793-94
Thomas Daniell
The Earl Cornwallis C1786-94 (Pen and Ink and Wash on Paper)
The Earl Cornwallis C1786-94 (Pen and Ink and Wash on Paper)
Thomas Daniell
Ruins on Pir Pihar Near Monghy Bihar 1790 (W/C over Graphite on Paper)
Ruins on Pir Pihar Near Monghy Bihar 1790 (W/C over Graphite on Paper)
Thomas Daniell
Indian Temple Said to Be the Mosque of Abo-Ul-Nabi Muttra 1827 (Oil on Canvas)
Indian Temple Said to Be the Mosque of Abo-Ul-Nabi Muttra 1827 (Oil on Canvas)
Thomas Daniell
Jami Masjid Delhi 1811 (Oil on Canvas)
Jami Masjid Delhi 1811 (Oil on Canvas)
Thomas Daniell
Ruins of the Naurattan Sasaram Bihar 1811 (Oil on Canvas)
Ruins of the Naurattan Sasaram Bihar 1811 (Oil on Canvas)
Thomas Daniell
Fakir's Rock at Sultanganj on the River Ganges India C1790 (W/C over Graphite on Paper)
Fakir's Rock at Sultanganj on the River Ganges India C1790 (W/C over Graphite on Paper)
Thomas Daniell
Dasasvamedha Ghat Benares
Dasasvamedha Ghat Benares
Thomas Daniell
Ramnurgur Near Benares on the River Ganges 1796
Ramnurgur Near Benares on the River Ganges 1796
Thomas Daniell
South East View of Fort St George From 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
South East View of Fort St George From 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Thomas Daniell
Fort of Trichinopoly From 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Fort of Trichinopoly From 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Thomas Daniell
Ramnugur near Benares on River Ganges from 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Ramnugur near Benares on River Ganges from 'Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan'
Thomas Daniell
Port of Cheringhee Calcutta Plate 32 from "Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan"
Port of Cheringhee Calcutta Plate 32 from "Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan"
Thomas Daniell
View at Nijeibabad near the Coaduwar Gaut Rohilcund plate XIII from Part 6 of 'Oriental Scenery'
View at Nijeibabad near the Coaduwar Gaut Rohilcund plate XIII from Part 6 of 'Oriental Scenery'
Thomas Daniell
The Ruins of the Palace at Madurai 1798
The Ruins of the Palace at Madurai 1798
Thomas Daniell
The Writers' Buildings Calcutta
The Writers' Buildings Calcutta
Thomas Daniell
The Council House Calcutta Plate 29 from "Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan"
The Council House Calcutta Plate 29 from "Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan"
Thomas Daniell
The Government House Fort St George from Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan 1798
The Government House Fort St George from Oriental Scenery: Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan 1798
Thomas Daniell














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