Thomas Daniell, R.A. (1749-1840) and William Daniell. R.A. (1769-1837)

The Entrance to the Mandesvara Temple, near Chainpur

细节
Thomas Daniell, R.A. (1749-1840) and William Daniell. R.A. (1769-1837)
The Entrance to the Mandesvara Temple, near Chainpur
inscribed and numbered 'N. 11 (crossed out) Entrance to the Temple of Sita/at Ramgur in the Boujipoor District -/Temple of Sita. R.G./No. 185' (on the reverse)
pencil, grey wash, watermark 'PORTAL & BRIDGES'
18¼ x 23¼ in (46.4 x 59 cm)
出版
M. Archer, Early Views of India, The Picturesque Journeys of Thomas and William Daniell 1786-1794, Thames and Hudson, London, 1980, p.102, illustrated.
展览
Smithsonian Institution, 1962, no.30.
Spink, 1974, no.97.
刻印
T. and W. Daniell, aquatint engraving, 1 December 1808, for Oriental Scenery, vol.V, no.13.

拍品专文

Another sacred site in the same district as Bhagwanpur (see lot 20) is Mandesvara, near Chainpur (actually some way to the south of Ramgarh, in spite of the inscription on the reverse of the drawing). The Daniells visited the half-buried temple at Mandesvara on 22 January 1790.

'This temple... terminates the top of the hill of Seeta, and was dedicated to Mandeswara, one of the appellations of Maha-Deva [i.e. Siva]. By the accumulated mass under which the Temple is now buried, it appears probable it originally had a spire, similar to many other Hindoo temples in this part of India; the peculiar forms of the ornamental parts, found near the entrance, strengthen this conjecture. The irregular path on one side of the hill leading up to the temple is in many places marked with the mouldering remains of ancient Hindoo art' (Oriental Scenery).

This drawing served as the basis for the aquatint Oriental Scenery, vol.V, no.13 (published 1 December 1808). Another aquatint (Oriental Scenery, vol.V, no.22) shows the interior of the temple.