Ode To River Ganga
Images from Daniells' Oriental Scenery from the collection of Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India
Who were the Daniells?
The Daniells were a uncle-nephew duo, Thomas Daniell (1749-1840) and William Daniell (1769-1837) from England who painted Indian landscapes and monuments in the 18th century. Their works are lauded to this day as a ‘’picturesque’’ record of Indian scenes which covered different subjects giving us an interesting collection of aquatints which they published as ‘’Oriental Scenery” between 1795 – 1808 in 6 volumes. With sponsorship from the East India Company, the Daniells made three tours of India, 1788 to 1793 over six years.
A Monumental journey
As they travelled across regions, hundreds of sketches, studies and notes were taken throughout their expeditions. The 144 coloured views of Mughal and Dravidian monuments, cityscapes, landscapes and mountains that comprised 'Oriental Scenery' were produced with the help of a camera obscura. The Daniells, returned to London in 1794 and produced one of the finest series of aquatints: 'Oriental Scenery'. The British in India bought them, housed them in their offices and club’s interiors. This exquisite work by the Daniells has evoked new interest since the 1950s and continues into the 21st century.
The Picturesque
The ‘picturesque’ – an aesthetic ideal introduced in the 18th century – was one of Britain’s most influential cultural movements. Picturesque places were depicted widely in prints and drawings, published in engraving series and as illustrations to books, poems or travel guides. As the British Empire expanded, artists like William Hodges, Thomas and William Daniell, and David Roberts supplied the British public with images of picturesque scenery in India, America, Africa and other regions of the world. The circulation of these prints and paintings gave birth to a new global consciousness, making the British familiar with the faraway regions of their empire.
The Salar Jung Museum collection
The Salar Jung Museum has a major part of the ‘’Oriental Scenery’’. Some of these aquatints depict the River Ganga as part of the composition. 'The Ganges' or Ganga is a trans-boundary river of Asia which flows through India and Bangladesh. The 2,525 km river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The river is considered sacred and its waters have assumed legendary powers in the form of the Hindu goddess Ganga, the source of creation and abundance. Pilgrims flock to her shores to purify themselves and cure ailments
Let us take a nostalgic journey en route the mighty River Ganga through the eyes of the Daniells!
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi (1777) by James RennellKalakriti Archives
A Map of the Provinces of Delhi, Agra, Oude, and Allahabad, exhibiting the Gangetic Plains by James Rennell, 1777.
View on the Ramganga (1800/1899) by Daniell, Thomas and Daniell, WilliamSalar Jung Museum
View on the Ramganga
A mesmerising view of the Ramganga, amidst the grandeur of mountains, a tributary of the river Ganga, originating in Uttarakhand state.
Near the Fort of Currah, on the River Ganges (1800/1899) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Near the Fort of Currah, on the River Ganges
Kara (Currah) was conquered by the invaders in 1194 and became a seat of government until Akbar built the fort and city of Allahabad in 1583 A.D. Many ruins of the older city, a sacred place for Hindus extended along the river bank such as this domed temple with steps leading down to the river Ganges.
View from the Ruins of the Fort at Currah, on the River Ganges (1800/1899) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
View from the Ruins of the Fort at Currah, on River Ganges
Kara (Currah) to the north-west of Allahabad on the river Ganges was an important political centre in medieval India, which declined when Akbar moved the centre of provincial government to Allahabad in 1583 A.D. A ruined gateway is depicted in this aquatint.
Ramnugur, nearly opposite Bernares, on the River Ganges (1700/1799) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Ramnugur, nearly opposite Benares, on the River Ganges
The fortress of Ramnagar near Benaras (Varanasi), was constructed by Raja Balwant Singh (1739-70 A.D). The Daniells may be seen on the left, seated on the pinnace boat on which they travelled in 1788-89. A state barge, a morpankhi has come out to meet them.
Dasasumade Gaut, at Bernares, on the River Ganges (1700/1799) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Dasasumade Gaut, at Benares, on the River Ganges
'Dasasvamedha Ghat' is one of the five most sacred places of pilgrimage in Benares (Varanasi) as it is believed that it was here the Lord Brahma of the Hindu Trinity, performed ten 'das' horse-sacrifices 'ashwa-medha' for king Divodasa. This painting depicts the Rana Mahal or Benares palace of the Rana of Mewar beyond the ghat .
Cannoge, on the River Ganges (1800/1899) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Cannoge, on the River Ganges
Kannauj was an important centre under Harsha, a powerful ruler of Northern India in the early 7th century, and it later became the capital of the Pratihara dynasty. This aquatint of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, depicts remnants and ruined tombs in the distance.
Part of the City of Patna,on the River Ganges (1700/1799) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Part of the city of Patna, on the River Ganges
Patna, the ancient city of Pataliputra in Bihar, on the right bank of the Ganges, became the capital of the Mauryan empire in the 3rd century BC. In this aquatint...the large building is the house of a Hindu merchant, others also belong to the merchants community....as per the artists.
S.W. View of the Fakeer's Rock in the River Ganges, near Sultaungung (1800/1899) by Daniell, Thomas and Daniell, WilliamSalar Jung Museum
S.W. View of the Fakeer's Rock near Sultaungung
Opposite the town of Sultanganj, in Bihar, a sacred rock emerges from the river Ganges. It is covered with reliefs of Lord Vishnu, dating from the 8th century and other standing divinities. On the top there is a small temple as this is a place of pilgrimage.
S.E. View of the Fakeer's Rock in the River Ganges, near Sultaungunge (1800/1899) by Daniell, Thomas and Daniell, WilliamSalar Jung Museum
S.E. View of the Fakeer's Rock near Sultaungunge
Opposite the town of Sultanganj, in Bihar, a sacred rock emerges from the river Ganges. It is covered with reliefs of Lord Vishnu, dating from the 8th Century and other standing divinities. On the top there is a small temple as this is a place of pilgrimage.
Ruins at the Ancient City of Gaur formerly on the Banks of the River Ganges (1700/1799) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Ruins at the Ancient City of Gaur
Gaur was the capital of Bengal under the Hindu kings and afterwards under Muslim rulers, but was abandoned in 1575 A.D. The Daniells found that the city was almost completely overgrown with thick vegetation and that the Ganges which used to run by the city was then several miles distant. The view seems to be of the semi-ruined Dakhil Gate, on the north of the citadel of Gaur.
Near Bandell, on the River Hoogley (1800/1899) by Daniell, ThomasSalar Jung Museum
Near Bandell, on the River Hoogley
Bandell, on the west bank of the Hugli, a tributary of Ganga, is the site of one of the former Portuguese settlements in Bengal. This riverside view on the bank of the Hugli is set in a sacred grove with a group of villagers seated around a memorial.
Text and Curation: Soma Ghosh
Photography: M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Research Assistance: Dinesh Singh and E. Rajesh
Special thanks to
Shri Ashish Goyal, IIS, Director, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
Dr. A Nagender Reddy, Former Director, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
References:
1. Archer, Mildred (1980) Early views of India: the picturesque journeys of Thomas and William Daniell 1786–1794. London: Thames and Hudson.
2 Michell, George (1998) Oriental Scenery – two hundred years of India’s artistic and architectural heritage aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell, New Delhi: Timeless Books.
3.Goswamy, B.N, introd. (2013) Daniells' India: Views from the Eighteenth Century, New Delhi: Niyogi Books.
4. https://www.bl.uk/picturing-places/articles/the-picturesque-at-home-and-abroad
5. https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery
6. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Oriental_Scenery
