Artist: Drawn by D. Roberts after a sketch by Thomas Bacon. Engraved by E. Finden
Medium: Original Engraving. (Plate from “The Oriental Annual; London: Charles Tilt, 1839”)
Unframed
Size: 4.8 x 7.5 in / 12 x 19 cm
The Oriental Annual was published between 1834-1840. Whilst the 1834-1838 editions were written by Reverend Hobart Caunter with supporting engravings by William Daniell; the 1839 and 1840 editions were written by Thomas Bacon, with sketches from the author rendered into finer drawings by multiple artists, consequently etched by William and Edward Finden & others.
From the penultimate edition of the Annual, we see a shift in the literary and artistic voice/s employed in the delineation of the narrative. While Daniell etched a panoramic picture of the land with his wide sweep across the subjects of people, trees, fauna, and landscapes; the 1839 and 1840 edition primarily concern themselves with landscapes and architecture.
We are led into many secrets - lesser known towns and villages, forgotten palaces, and an array of scattered ruins - from around present day Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand - all with fascinating stories, albeit highly orientalist. While the engravings in these volumes compromise significantly in terms of thematic diversity - they make up for it with their multiplicity of artistic languages, and acute attention to craft and detail; in addition introducing also to some lesser known artistic talents of the 19th century.
Non-exportable antiquities. Cannot be exported out of India
