'North West View of Rotas Ghur, Bahar [sic]'

Coloured aquatint by and after Thomas Daniell, from Part 1 of the series 'Oriental Scenery' published by Robert Bowyer, The Historic Gallery, Pall Mall, March 1795.

Between 1786 and 1793, Thomas Daniell (1749-1840) and his nephew William Daniell (1769-1837) shared a celebrated artistic journey around India. Their subsequent six volume work, entitled 'Oriental Scenery' and published from 1795 to 1815, was one of the first popular artistic endeavours to bring home to people in Britain the true wonders of Indian architecture, landscapes and people.

The ancient fort of Rohtasgarh, located in the Kaimur Hills in Bihar, was built by Harish Chandra of the Solar dynasty. It was captured by Emperor Sher Shah Suri in 1539 before being taken over by Raja Man Singh, Akbar the Great's Hindu governor of Bengal and Bihar. An abandoned Hindu temple can be seen at the top of the hill while behind it the domed temple of Harsichandra is evident.