Hindu temple in the fort of Rotasgarh, Bihar. Coloured aquatint by Thomas Daniell, 1796.

Within the fort of Rotasgarh were the remains of a Mughal palace, mosques, and Hindu temples. Archer op. cit.

Archer quotes a description by Thomas Daniell : "This building, composed of grey granite, is of singular construction, and has the appearance of great antiquity. The Hindoos, who formerly preferred elevated places for their temples, could not, it would seem, resist the temptation of building in this place, the situation being delightful, and water and wood, with every other convenience, abundant"

In 1800, Thomas Daniell based a monument to Warren Hastings at Melchet Park in Hampshire on the porch of this little temple. Archer op. cit. Warren Hastings (1732-1818) was governor-general of India and also the sponsor of William Hodges, an artist who travelled to India before the Daniells. Prints from Hodges' series Select views in India are in the collection

London (Historic Gallery Pall Mall) : Published as the act directs for Tho[ma]s Daniell by Rob[er]t Bowyer, January 1796.

1 print : aquatint, with watercolour ; platemark 49 x 65 cm.

An ancient Hindoo temple, in the fort of Rotas, Bahar ; drawn and engraved by Thomas Daniell Bears number bottom right : XI

Travel in aquatint and lithography 1770-1860 from the library of J.R. Abbey, San Francisco 1991, vol. 2, 420.12

Mildred Archer, Early views of India, London 1980, reproduced as no. 82

Wellcome Collection 27459i