Drawings for Oriental Scenery including Ruins near Firoz Shah's Kotla, Delhi; and View in the Fort, Madura, Madras

Details

Thomas Daniell, R.A. (1749-1840)
Drawings for Oriental Scenery including Ruins near Firoz Shah's Kotla, Delhi; and View in the Fort, Madura, Madras
pencil, the first with grey wash, unframed
15¾ x 23¼ in. (40 x 59 cm.); and slightly smaller (2)

Provenance

Sir Henry Russell, and by descent to
Sir Arthur Russell.
with Walker's Gallery, London.
Anon. sale; Sotheby's, London, 8 November 1961, lot 4 (part) (2 gns) where purchased for the present collection.

Literature

the first, Oriental Scenery, vol. 1, no. 7, 'Remains of an Ancient Building, Near Firoz Sha's Cotillan at Delhi, Septr., 1795', the second, Oriental Scenery, vol. II, no. 14, 'View in the fort of Madura, Novr., 1797'.

Engraved

The first, Oriental Scenery, vol. 1, no. 7, 'Remains of an Ancient Building, Near Firoz Sha's Cotillan at Delhi, Septr., 1795'; the second, Oriental Scenery, vol. II, no. 14, 'View in the fort of Madura, Novr., 1797'.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Founded in 1354 by Firoz Shah Tughluq, the Kotla formed the citadel of Firozabad. There is little left to tell of its past glories, although Daniell captures the imposing architecture of the circular baoli and the mosque, surmised to have held 10,000 people. In the centre is the durbar, or audience chamber.

The subject of the second drawing, which has not survived, was 'a pavillion situated on the east side of the fort at Madura...Rajah Tremal Naig is said to have built it for the purpose of viewing the religious processions, and other ceremonies, of the Hindoos'.

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