On the Island of Elephanta
Description
Engraving by Robert Brandard (1834)
Published in Oriental Annual, or Scenes in India, Comprising Twenty-Two Engravings from Original Drawings by William Daniell, and a Descriptive Account by Hobart Caunter, Vol. 3, pl. 14, London, 1834–38
This print of the Elephanta Caves was made from a steel engraving based on the original drawing by William Daniell and was published in 1836. The island of Elephanta is located on the Bombay Harbour. The name ‘Elephanta’ was given by the Portuguese because of the sculpture of an elephant, hewn from an isolated mass of trap rock, which formerly stood on the lower part of the island not far from the usual landing place. James Burgess described the statue in 1871 as follows:
“This Elephant was 13 feet 2 inches in length and about 7 feet 4 inches high, but its head and neck dropped in September 1814, and subsequently the body sunk down into a shapeless mass of stones, which in 1864 were removed to the Victoria Gardens in Bombay.”
Its removal was at the suggestion of W.E. Frere, to save the relic from complete destruction. The elephant originally had a smaller figure on its back, which several early authorities, such as Captain Basil Hall, identified as a tiger.
Gift of Pheroza and Jamshed Godrej
Collection
Prints, Drawings and Photographs
Artist
William Daniell R.A. (1769–1837)
Object Type
Material
Paper, ink
Schools/Culture/Period
Modern
Technique
Engraving
Date
1834–38
Location
London
Dimension
11 x 14.7 cms