Recently, I came across a small watercolour sketch framed under glass with a label on the back.

The image looked like a temple, but dating it was optimistic since the sketch was not signed or dated, and the paper looked possibly old enough. I purchased it to add to my small Indian collection. I decided to open the back and see if I might be lucky enough to find more information on the verso of the sketch. To my delight, there was.

In pencil on the verso, the sketch is said to be by #WilliamDaniell (1769-1837) and stemming from his Indian tour. Daniell’s tour of India with his uncle Thomas occurred from 1786 to 1794, thus giving us an accurate date. William and Thomas produced ‘Oriental Scenery’ on their return to England. A foundational publication providing the British public a view into Indian architecture, landscape, and culture.

Daniell was a superb landscape painter and printmaker, but was most renowned for his detailed aquatints – 144 of which were used in Oriental Scenery .

To finish a couple of watercolours from 1862 by William Simpson, who also toured India.