Lot Essay
There is a study of foliage, squared for transfer on the reverse of the watercolour.
Deo is a small site close to Madanpur (see lot 6), to the north of Gaya. From their drawings there the Daniells later made two aquatints: this one was the basis for Oriental Scenery, vol.V, no.6 (published 15 January 1800). The accompanying text tells us:
'The temple is dedicated to Seeva, and reported to be of considerable antiquity, although from the nature of the material from which it is built (being of hard grey granite) it is but little impaired by time... The inside of this building, like the ouside, is altogether formed of grey granite; but it does not appear to have been incrusted with stucco. In the centre of the ceiling is a sculptured Lotos, supporting an iron chain to which several bells are attached: it being customary for the Hindoos to give notice of their approach to the sacred apartment by ringing of bells' (Oriental Scenery).
Views of temple interiors are rare in the Daniells' work, and this is a particularly arresting composition, with the axis of symmetry placed to the left of centre, and the sense of space opening up to the right. A black sculpted image or murti stands against the wall in the background.
Deo is a small site close to Madanpur (see lot 6), to the north of Gaya. From their drawings there the Daniells later made two aquatints: this one was the basis for Oriental Scenery, vol.V, no.6 (published 15 January 1800). The accompanying text tells us:
'The temple is dedicated to Seeva, and reported to be of considerable antiquity, although from the nature of the material from which it is built (being of hard grey granite) it is but little impaired by time... The inside of this building, like the ouside, is altogether formed of grey granite; but it does not appear to have been incrusted with stucco. In the centre of the ceiling is a sculptured Lotos, supporting an iron chain to which several bells are attached: it being customary for the Hindoos to give notice of their approach to the sacred apartment by ringing of bells' (Oriental Scenery).
Views of temple interiors are rare in the Daniells' work, and this is a particularly arresting composition, with the axis of symmetry placed to the left of centre, and the sense of space opening up to the right. A black sculpted image or murti stands against the wall in the background.