The Great Pagoda, Trichinopoly

Thomas Daniell, accompanied by his nephew William Daniell (1769-1837), set off for India in 1785. The two traveled extensively throughout northern and southern India until 1794. This drawing is preparatory for the aquatint engraving by Thomas Daniell that appeared in the first of his six volumes devoted to "Oriental Scenery," which he began publishing upon his return to London (plate 46). The inaugural volume was issued in March 1796. The Morgan also preserves the Daniells' large drawings for The Sacred Tree of the Hindoos at Gyah, Bahar, March 1790 (1974.73), and The Great Pagoda, Trichinopoly, 1792 (1986.28) as well as a copy of "Oriental Scenery".
Although this series was printed in London, Daniell often employed local Indian artists to hand color the finished impressions in his printing studio in Kolkata, India. The Fort of Tiruchirapalli lies on the sacred Cauvery River in southern India. The fort stands on and around a granite rock, 273 feet high, which is crowned by a temple to the elephant-headed god Ganesha.
Study for the aquatint published in the same direction in Thomas and William Daniell's "Oriental Scenery", 1795-1807, part 2, no. 46.