[Calcutta], the Artist, 1794
Rare views of Calcutta - 12 hand-coloured etchings. Baillie's rare complete suite of twelve views of Calcutta.
A Bengal Engineer, William Baillie was a friend and admirer of the Daniells in Calcutta. He had arrived as a Cadet in 1777 but became disillusioned with military life and resigned from the Army in 1788. He was hoping to make a living by painting and engraving. His first known engraving was dated 1791 and is a view of the new Fort George. He wrote to a friend, Ozias Humphreys, in 1793 that he was just beginning a set of twelve views of Calcutta 'which I mean to execute as near I can in the style of drawings by etching only the outline and filling in the tints with ink and staining them'.
Baillie's set of 12 prints was issued in Calcutta in 1794. They are smaller than Thomas Daniell's but were probably designed to emulate them since several prints show similar views. The originality of Baillie's set is evident however in his studies of the New Fort which depict this masterpiece of military architecture in detail. Baillie had several other projects in mind, but it was not long before first his eyesight and then his health began to fail, and he died in Calcutta in 1799 aged 46.
The subjects are: 1. View of Esplanade-Row, Calcutta, from the River to the Council-House; 2. North View of Fort William, from the Esplanade, 3. South View of the Council-House and Government-House, Calcutta; 4. View of Tank Square, Calcutta, from the East, 5. Military Orphan School, opposite to Calcutta, for the Children of private Soldiers; 6. South-East View of the New Church at Calcutta; 7. General View of Calcutta, taken near the Sluice of Fort William; 8. South-west View of Fort William; 9. North View of the Water Gate and Royal Barracks, Fort William; 10. South View of Calcutta, taken from the Glacis of Fort William; 11. North East View of the Military Orphan House, near Calcutta, for the Children of Officers; 12. View of the East Side of Tank Square, Calcutta.
Landscape folio (46 x 36.5 cm); 12 etchings with original hand-colour, good margins outside the plate mark, a couple of short marginal tears (nothing untoward), occasional minor marginal soiling, later red half morocco gilt, lettered to spine direct and to large lettering piece to upper cover, lightly rubbed, a very good set.
Bobins 1411; Godrej & Rohatgi (Scenic Splendours), pp 31 & 147.
A Bengal Engineer, William Baillie was a friend and admirer of the Daniells in Calcutta. He had arrived as a Cadet in 1777 but became disillusioned with military life and resigned from the Army in 1788. He was hoping to make a living by painting and engraving. His first known engraving was dated 1791 and is a view of the new Fort George. He wrote to a friend, Ozias Humphreys, in 1793 that he was just beginning a set of twelve views of Calcutta 'which I mean to execute as near I can in the style of drawings by etching only the outline and filling in the tints with ink and staining them'.
Baillie's set of 12 prints was issued in Calcutta in 1794. They are smaller than Thomas Daniell's but were probably designed to emulate them since several prints show similar views. The originality of Baillie's set is evident however in his studies of the New Fort which depict this masterpiece of military architecture in detail. Baillie had several other projects in mind, but it was not long before first his eyesight and then his health began to fail, and he died in Calcutta in 1799 aged 46.
The subjects are: 1. View of Esplanade-Row, Calcutta, from the River to the Council-House; 2. North View of Fort William, from the Esplanade, 3. South View of the Council-House and Government-House, Calcutta; 4. View of Tank Square, Calcutta, from the East, 5. Military Orphan School, opposite to Calcutta, for the Children of private Soldiers; 6. South-East View of the New Church at Calcutta; 7. General View of Calcutta, taken near the Sluice of Fort William; 8. South-west View of Fort William; 9. North View of the Water Gate and Royal Barracks, Fort William; 10. South View of Calcutta, taken from the Glacis of Fort William; 11. North East View of the Military Orphan House, near Calcutta, for the Children of Officers; 12. View of the East Side of Tank Square, Calcutta.
Landscape folio (46 x 36.5 cm); 12 etchings with original hand-colour, good margins outside the plate mark, a couple of short marginal tears (nothing untoward), occasional minor marginal soiling, later red half morocco gilt, lettered to spine direct and to large lettering piece to upper cover, lightly rubbed, a very good set.
Bobins 1411; Godrej & Rohatgi (Scenic Splendours), pp 31 & 147.
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