Drawings for Oriental Scenery including Govinda Ram Mittee Temple, Calcutta; and Temple on the river bank, Kara

Details

Thomas Daniell, R.A. (1749-1840) and William Daniell, R.A. (1769-1837)
Drawings for Oriental Scenery including Govinda Ram Mittee Temple, Calcutta; and Temple on the river bank, Kara
pencil, unframed
16¾ x 23¾ in (42.5 x 59.6 cm.); and slightly smaller (2)

Provenance

Sir Henry Russell, and by descent to
Sir Arthur Russell.
with Walker's Gallery, London.
Anon. sale; Sotheby's, London, 8 November 1961, lot 4 (part) (2 gns), where purchased for the present collection.

Engraved

The first T. Daniell, aquatint engraving for Oriental Scenery, vol. II, no. 5 entitled 'Govinda Ram Mittee's Pagoda, Calcutta, Augt., 1798'; the second T. Daniell, aquatint engraving for Oriental Scenery, vol. III, no. 1 entitled 'Near the Fort of Currah on the River Ganges, Augt 1, 1801'.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

Built by the wealthy merchant Govindram Mitter in 1730, the temple is situated on the Chitpore road. The Daniells visited it in early 1792: 'The Pagoda, or Hindoo Temple, which is dedicated to Seeva, was built by Govinda Ram Mittee, a native merchant, residing in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, but never completely finished'.

Kara is an ancient town in the higher reaches of the Ganges. The Daniells stopped there in 1789, en route from Lucknow to Bhagulpore. William noted in his journal 'a small Hindoo building situated on a very high picturesque bank', perhaps visualising straight away the composition of the present drawing.

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