Lot Essay
Painted while Thomas Daniell and his nephew William were staying with Colonel Claud Martin at Lucknow in the Oudh, from mid-July to 22 September 1789. William's diary entry for 18 July reads, 'Col. Martin, Un. [Uncle] & self went very early to the Nawaub's Bungalow at Gow Gautee to see the Elephant fight. The Nawaub gave us breakfast in the English stile (sic). There were abt. 6 or 7 Engagements some of them very fierce. Un the rest of the day making a Sketch of the fight on a half length'.
This is a rare if not unique example of a sketch designed for a more ambitious composition by Thomas Daniell. Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Oudh, with whom the Daniells and Colonel Martin breakfasted on 9 August, suggested a companion series of aquatints similar to the Daniell's Twelve Views of Calcutta. Although the scheme was never brought to fruition, William Daniell, some fifty years later, elaborated the subject in a small steel engraving with text by the Rev. Hobart Caunter published in the Oriental Annual for 1838
Thomas Daniell set out for India in April 1785 accompanied by his young nephew William. After more than a year in Calcutta, they went on an extended tour through North India between August 1788 and November 1791. Having raised fresh funds throught a lottery of their paintings they made a second tour during 1792 round South India. They painted many oils during their eight years in India and also built up a large collection of drawings from which both Thomas and William were able to produce oil paintings of India for the rest of their lives. They were commissioned by private patrons or for exhibitions at the British Institution and the Royal Academy between 1793 and 1836. At the same time Thomas, assisted by William produced between 1795 and 1808 their celebrated aquatint engravings of Oriental Scenery
This is a rare if not unique example of a sketch designed for a more ambitious composition by Thomas Daniell. Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Oudh, with whom the Daniells and Colonel Martin breakfasted on 9 August, suggested a companion series of aquatints similar to the Daniell's Twelve Views of Calcutta. Although the scheme was never brought to fruition, William Daniell, some fifty years later, elaborated the subject in a small steel engraving with text by the Rev. Hobart Caunter published in the Oriental Annual for 1838
Thomas Daniell set out for India in April 1785 accompanied by his young nephew William. After more than a year in Calcutta, they went on an extended tour through North India between August 1788 and November 1791. Having raised fresh funds throught a lottery of their paintings they made a second tour during 1792 round South India. They painted many oils during their eight years in India and also built up a large collection of drawings from which both Thomas and William were able to produce oil paintings of India for the rest of their lives. They were commissioned by private patrons or for exhibitions at the British Institution and the Royal Academy between 1793 and 1836. At the same time Thomas, assisted by William produced between 1795 and 1808 their celebrated aquatint engravings of Oriental Scenery