Views in Calcutta

The topographical beauty of Calcutta in its classical heyday: Calcutta's architectural heritage and topographical growth have continued to fascinate people since the city was founded some 300 years ago, explaining why it appears in printed views more frequently than any other city in India.

Sir Charles D'Oyly, administrator in India and artist, was born at Murshidabad, India, in September 1781. His family returned to England in 1785, and at the age of 16, D'Oyly sailed for India, with introductions from Warren Hastings. Although a career administrator, D'Oyly's real significance is as an artist. He drew as a child, and was sending drawings home from India soon after arrival. Like many amateurs in India, his work came under the influence of George Chinnery; the two men were constantly in each other's company between 1807 and 1820. A fine draughtsman, his topographic drawings in pen or pencil are often of great skill and sensitivity.

D'Oyly died in 1845 and his views of Calcutta, worked up anonymously for publication by George Francis White, were published as lithographs by Dickinson & Co. posthumously in 1848. These lithographs reflect the appearance of the city in the 1830's, some 15 years after James Fraser's views of the city. By this time, additional roads had been laid out. Buildings and other features of the townscape had been completed, including a prominent monument on the Maidan Road erected to the memory of Sir David Ochterloney by the citizens of Calcutta. The city was more established, its parks and gardens had matured and trees had grown.

10 hand-coloured lithograph views from the set of 25, 475 x 643 mm.

Abbey, Travel 497; Tooley (1954) 187.