1749-1840 (Thomas Daniell); 1769-1837 (William Daniell) In 1785, Thomas and William embarked for India. They sailed from Gravesend on 7 April 1785, arriving in Calcutta via Whampoa in China early in 1786.[1] In July 1786, Daniell announced, in an advertisement in the Calcutta Chronicle, his intention to publish a set of views of the city. Executed in etching and aquatint and hand-coloured by local painters, the twelve plates were completed in late 1788.[2] In November of that year Daniell wrote to Ozias Humphrey "I was obliged to stand Painter Engraver Copper-smith Printer and Printers Devil myself. It was a devilish undertaking but I was determined to see it through at all events."[2]

On 3 September 1788, the Daniells set out on a tour of north-eastern India, leaving Calcutta by boat along the River Ganges, travelling as far as Srinagar (in the District of Garwhal, Uttar Pradesh), where they arrived in May 1789. They made many stops on their return journey, not arriving back in Calcutta until February 1792.[1] On March 10, 1792 the Daniells left Calcutta once more, this time for Madras (now Chennai), reaching it on the 29th of the same month.

They left Madras after only 11 days, having hired the services of a considerable retinue, including two palanquins and their bearers, taking a route which more or less followed that of the British army which had defeated Tipu Sultan the previous year. They were back in Madras in January 1793.[1] A briefer third tour took them through western India. They left Madras in the middle of February 1793 and reached Bombay the following month. In May 1793 the Daniells left India and returned to England, reaching home in September 1794.

From a collection of 93 original sketches including watercolours,sepia & pencil drawings executed for the artist's 'Indian Scenery' - mounted & bound in an oblong non-folio volume in half calf.

From a collection of 93 original sketches.