The New Court House and Chandpal Ghaut
Artist and publisher Thomas Daniell British
Not on view
Plate 5 from Thomas Daniell's "Views of Calcutta" represents the Supreme Court building with a colonnaded verandah, opened in 1782. Chandpal Ghat, on the River Hooghly at Esplanade Row, was the official landing stage for visitors to Calcutta, suggested here by a model ship being carried by Indian bearers.
In 1784 Thomas Daniel obtained permission from the East India Company to travel to India to work as an engraver, assisted by his nephew William. The pair reached Calcutta in 1786 and soon began to issue the first topographical prints of the colonial capital. Twelve etched and aquatinted “Views of Calcutta” were completed by 1788, printed and hand-colored by Indian assistants. The images proved immensely popular in India and Europe, and helped to launch a vogue for Indian ornament and design in Britain.
