Thomas Daniell

Thomas Daniell was among the earliest British artists to embark on a painting expedition to India, renowned for his collaboration with his nephew, William Daniell. Together, they created some of the most iconic and detailed visual records of India during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Born in Surrey, England, in 1749, Daniell came from humble beginnings as the son of an innkeeper. He initially took on jobs as a bricklayer and coach painter before pursuing formal training at the Royal Academy in London. Despite exhibiting 30 works at the Academy between 1772 and 1784, he struggled to establish himself as a landscape painter in Britain. Inspired by accounts of India's wealth and picturesque landscapes—particularly following the work of William Hodges—Daniell secured permission from the East India Company in 1784 to travel to Calcutta as an engraver, accompanied by his young nephew.

From 1785 to 1794, the Daniells traveled extensively across India, documenting its landscapes, architecture, and cultural life. Their journey took them through the Himalayas, along the Ganges, into the dense forests and temples of southern India, and across major cities like Calcutta and Madras. These expeditions resulted in an extraordinary collection of sketches and paintings that captured the essence of India during that era.

Upon returning to England, the Daniells transformed their sketches into aquatint prints, culminating in Oriental Scenery (1795–1808), a six-volume series comprising 140 meticulously crafted prints. The series was widely acclaimed, offering British audiences a detailed glimpse into India's landscapes and architecture. They also produced Views of Calcutta, further cementing their legacy as pioneering visual chroniclers of colonial India.

Through their work, Thomas and William Daniell shaped Western perceptions of India, leaving behind an invaluable artistic and historical record that continues to be studied and admired today.