Thomas Daniell
FRAMED PRINTS ON GLASS
Born in the mid-18th century, Thomas Daniell was an English landscape painter who also painted Orientalist themes. He spent seven years in India, accompanied by his nephew William, also an artist, and published several series of aquatints of the country.
After graduating from the Royal Academy Schools, Daniell found it difficult to establish himself as a landscape painter in Britain. Like many other Europeans at that time, Daniell was drawn to India by stories of the wealth and fame that awaited travellers to the newly accessible East, and in 1784 he obtained permission from the East India Company to travel to Calcutta to work as an engraver.
It was in India that Thomas and his nephew executed various hand-coloured aquatints in Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and various places in the South and the North of the country, and this established his reputation as a landscape illustrator upon his return to England.
In May 1793 the Daniells left India and returned to England, reaching home in September 1794 On his return to England, Daniell set about publishing an extensive illustrated work under the general heading title of "Oriental Scenery". Six volumes, published between 1795 and 1808, were based on drawings made in India by. the Daniells themselves. There were 144 plates in total, including a set published as Twenty-four landscapes, views in Hindoostan drawn and engraved by Thomas and William Daniell.
Gottacombai has carefully curated Daniell's aquatints and is showcasing some of this work in artistically creative and distinctly original ways.
