Benares on the River Ganges

Hubert Cornish was a talented musician and artist, whose sister Charlotte married Sir John Shore, first Baron Teignmouth (1751-1834). On Shore's appointment as Governor-General of India, Cornish accompanied him as Private Secretary and recorded in watercolour their travels together. Sir John only served for five years, between 1793 and 1798. Cornish however travelled extensively and on his return to England became well known for his engraved panorama of Sidmouth, published by Wallis in 1815.

This is an early view of the Manikarnika Ghat, Benares executed before the other temples were built in the early 19th Century. The temple of Ahalya Bhai can be seen on the left and Aurangzeb's mosque, built in the late 17th Century, is depicted further along to the right of the composition. The block of buildings in the middle crown the Manikarnika Ghat.