First Edition Books and Rare Art

Hindoo Temples at Bindrabund on the River Jumna. From Oriental Scenery.

An original hand-coloured aquatint from late 18th century, by the famous explorers and artists – Thomas and William Daniell.

The print was extracted from the Twenty Four Views in Hindoostan, Drawn and Engraved by Thomas Daniell, and with permission respectfully dedicated to the Honorable Court of Directors/of the East India Company. London March.1795.

On 10th February 1789, travelling from Mathura, the Daniells reached Bindrabund, another sacred city, where Krishna was said to have spent a happy childhood, entrusted to the care of the herdsman Nanda. Thomas Daniell was so impressed by ‘these beautiful and elegant Pagodas’ that on his return to England he submitted an oil version as his Diploma picture for the Royal Academy, where it still hangs.

Interestingly, this particular view by the Daniells was an important source of inspiration for Humphrey Repton when designing an aviary for the Royal Pavillion in Brighton.

Learn more from J.R. Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860 from the library of J.R. Abbey: a bibliographical catalogue. London 1957.