Collection: Art prints by Thomas Daniell

Thomas Daniell was a British landscape painter and graphic artist of the late 18th and early 19th century who became known primarily for his depictions of India. Together with his nephew William Daniell, he shaped the European image of the Indian subcontinent at a time when direct observation was hardly possible for most viewers.

Daniell was born in Chertsey in 1749 and received his artistic training in England, including at the Royal Academy. In the 1780s, he traveled to India with William Daniell, where they both spent several years and produced a large number of drawings and watercolors. These works later served as the basis for the extensive print project Oriental Scenery, which was widely distributed in Europe.

Daniell's work focuses on landscapes, architecture and cityscapes. Temples, palaces, river landscapes and gardens are depicted with great care and clear structure. The pictures combine topographical accuracy with a calm, idealizing view of nature and architecture. People usually appear only incidentally and serve primarily to enliven and add scale.

Stylistically, Daniell's works are characterized by a balanced composition and restrained use of colour. Dramatic effects recede into the background in favor of clarity and lucidity. The aim was less personal expressiveness than a comprehensible and appealing depiction of foreign places for a European audience.

Thomas Daniell died in London in 1840. Today, his works are regarded as important testimonies to colonial image production. They convey not only artistic quality, but also an insight into the way Europe perceived and depicted India - calm, orderly and from a distanced, observational perspective.