HODGES, William (1744–1797)

This atmospheric aquatint depicts the imposing Fort of Mongheer (modern Munger, Bihar) rising above the southern bank of the River Ganges. Viewed from across the broad river, the fortified settlement occupies a rocky promontory, its defensive walls, gateways and domed structures silhouetted against an expansive sky. Boats navigating the Ganges animate the foreground, reflecting the strategic and commercial importance of the river during the late eighteenth century.

Originally strengthened under the Mughal Empire and later occupied by the East India Company, Mongheer was one of eastern India’s most significant military strongholds. Its commanding position overlooking the Ganges made it a vital centre for administration, trade and defence. Hodges captures not only the fortifications themselves but also the tranquil character of the surrounding landscape, balancing architectural precision with a painterly appreciation of atmosphere and light.

Drawn during William Hodges’ extensive travels through India between 1780 and 1783, the composition was engraved by William Byrne and published in 1787 in Select Views in India. The series introduced British audiences to some of India’s most remarkable landscapes and monuments through the newly fashionable aquatint process, establishing Hodges as one of the earliest and most influential European artists to document the Indian subcontinent.

Reference: William Hodges, Select Views in India, Drawn on the Spot, in the Years 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783, London, 1780s; Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography, no. 416.