Page 264 - Eye of the beholder

This watercolor of the Rock Fort of Trichinopoly was acquired by me from an English Auction. The subject of the painting was drawn by Thomas and William Daniell at least 4 times in Oriental Scenery. This particular one is modelled after aquatint number II.19.
The painting stayed in my collection for quite a few years, during which time I had a strong suspicion that it was the original finished watercolor based on which the Daniells prepared their aquatint. A fee experts from Christies and Bonhams also shared the same opinion.
Later however, we all changed our attribution to the Daniells based on a close examination of the paper. The Daniells used Whatman paper of a particular grade imported into India from England that they carried with themselves. The paper used in this painting turned out to be a type of European paper stamped Ganson and Montgolfier on reverse, black margin rules. Thus, based on the watermark and the manufacturer of the paper alone, the attribution of the painting was changed. It finally sold at Bonhams, but for a fraction of the price at which it would have sold if it was firmly attributed to the Daniells.
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