Lot Essay
In origin a very ancient city, Kanauj had been one of the major strongholds of the Rajputs before their defeat by Muhammad of Ghur in 1192. The mosque depicted here was built in 1406 by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur (see the note on Jaunpur - lot 35). The Daniells record that it stands
'on the site of an Hindoo temple, and probably much of the ancient materials have again been brought into use by the Mahomedans (a frequent practice with them, after mutilating every ornament that had any reference of Hindoo mythology) the pillars, and some other parts being evidently Hindoo' (Oriental Scenery).
The Daniells passed through Kanauj on their way to Lucknow in the summer of 1789. Regarding its scattered remains, they were roused to a characteristic expression of sensibility:
'It is impossible to look at these miserable remnants of the great city of Cannoge without the most melancholy sensations, and the strongest convictions of the inevitability of man's proudest works... The plains of India indeed present to mankind many a sad proof of the uncertainty of human glory' (Oriental Scenery).
This watercolour is one of four in the collection signed 'WD' and thus presumed to be the work of William Daniell alone (see lots 7, 31 and 37).
'on the site of an Hindoo temple, and probably much of the ancient materials have again been brought into use by the Mahomedans (a frequent practice with them, after mutilating every ornament that had any reference of Hindoo mythology) the pillars, and some other parts being evidently Hindoo' (Oriental Scenery).
The Daniells passed through Kanauj on their way to Lucknow in the summer of 1789. Regarding its scattered remains, they were roused to a characteristic expression of sensibility:
'It is impossible to look at these miserable remnants of the great city of Cannoge without the most melancholy sensations, and the strongest convictions of the inevitability of man's proudest works... The plains of India indeed present to mankind many a sad proof of the uncertainty of human glory' (Oriental Scenery).
This watercolour is one of four in the collection signed 'WD' and thus presumed to be the work of William Daniell alone (see lots 7, 31 and 37).