DANIELL, Thomas and William Daniell

This impression comes from the 1816 collected edition of the celebrated Oriental Scenery, one of the most important illustrated works on the architecture and antiquities of India. The plate was originally engraved for the Ellora series and later incorporated into the complete folio edition issued in 1816.

The print depicts the remarkable interior of the celebrated Indra Sabha, the principal Jain cave temple at Ellora, Maharashtra. The composition focuses on the dense forest of monumental carved pillars supporting the rock-cut ceiling, their elaborate capitals richly ornamented with floral and geometric decoration. The carefully balanced perspective leads the viewer through successive rows of columns toward the sanctum at the rear, revealing the extraordinary architectural sophistication achieved by medieval Indian craftsmen working entirely within solid volcanic rock.

Unlike many picturesque views in Oriental Scenery, this plate is primarily architectural, emphasizing symmetry, proportion, and the remarkable craftsmanship of the Jain excavations. The restrained use of hand-colouring enhances the sculptural quality of the stone surfaces while preserving the solemn atmosphere of the cave interior.

The Daniells visited Ellora during their travels across western India in the early 1790s, producing what remain among the earliest accurate European visual records of the site. Their engravings significantly influenced nineteenth-century European appreciation of Indian architecture and are now regarded as foundational works in the documentation of India’s archaeological heritage.

reff. Abbey, J.R., Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770–1860, Abbey Travel 420; Sutton, Thomas, The Daniells: Artists and Travellers (1954); Archer, Mildred, Early Views of India; Daniell, Thomas & William, Oriental Scenery (London, 1795–1808).