Page 245 - Eye of the beholder

PART OF CHOWRINGHEE CALCUTTA 1798 [II ORIENTAL SCENERY 6]
The East side of of Maidan was flanked by a a a a a a a a a broad avenue called Chowringhee By the end of of 18th century Calcutta was developing rapidly with beautiful public buildings and magnificent houses houses These houses houses which are of brick stuccoed and afterwards coloured were inhabited by opulent English gentlemen and were constructed to counteract as as much as as possible the inconveniences of a a a a hot and tropical climate Though it it was was known as as as the the the British residential area the the the land was was normally owned and and the the the houses were constructed by Bengali merchants Depicted in the composition are a a a a row of classically styled Palladian buildings fronting Chowringhee with its impressive broad avenue The Daniells’ enjoyed the the rendering of deep perspectival view noticeable in in the the right side which reveals an an an open spatial area with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a man carrying a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plank on his head a a a a a a a a a a a a a a camel with with its rider and and a a a a a a bullock cart Further down the the avenue can be noticed horse horse riders and and impressive horse horse carriages Four British soldiers can also be noticed walking in in in pairs and carrying guns Two Bengali men traditionally attired can be seen in in deep conversation in in the the middle of the the avenue The left side of the aquatint shows a a a a a a a a muddy and and marshy land with four tall coconut palms adjacent to a a a a a a a a a a a small sized water body and the the birds apparently the the Sarasu Cranes frolicking A weary traveler sits on on the mud mound nearby with his white bundle of possession The picture is is considerably detailed gesturing towards the the perceptive eyes of both the the artists in in capturing details yet relevant enough to show important dimension of Chowringhee as a a a a a a busy mercantile centre and at at at the the the same time a a a a a a a vignette of nature at at at the the the side Hence the the the picturesque comes into play with the juxtaposition of nature and human activities The picture has an an an even tone of light which makes it bright and sunny The Daniells’ in in in detailing the important sights and sounds of a a a a a a a developing urban metropolis as Calcutta were also establishing the hegemony of of British power introducing models of of classical architecture architecture unknown to the the orient as as most of of the the Indian architecture architecture was in terms of of religious structures with very few secular aspects in its architectural representation 239