Page 271 - Eye of the beholder

The original drawing was done in in in in in 1792 with the the the British flag flying in in in in in the the the fortifications to the the the left indicating that the fort was recently captured as as as early as as as 1791 Rings of walls enclosing the the central granite rock at successive levels were clearly visible to to the the Daniells’ but today it it can hardly be traced with the the exception of an isolated bastion at at the the foot Thomas Daniell excelled in in in composing his views in in in which there is is is a a a a a persistent use of dramatic element which captures the the viewers’ attention immediately Either it it is a a a a a a massive outcrop of a a a a a a hill or or an an unusual shaped shaped rocky formation as in in this particular instance which is is cone shaped shaped or it it is is the exceptional flat plains that is is equally breathtaking in in in in in making it it as a a a a a a a a a a a dominant element This coloured aquatint is is is as as beautiful as as it is is is picturesque Perspectival and lighting adjustments introduced by the the the Daniells’ accentuated the the the dramatic contours of the the the central rock The The central dome of of of granite is encircled by rings of of of walls The The contours of of of the hills have been observed with an an an an eye to detail giving it it it an an an an appearance of foreboding and inhospitable This has been achieved by his his dexterous use of chiaroscuro which makes the hill in shadow on on on one side while from the the the front it appears in the the the full glare of the the the sunlight The fortress walls enclose the the the contours of of the the the hills as as though clasped by strong hands The terrain of of the the the hill hill is not an easy one appearing to be treacherous Perhaps it it it is these qualities of its geological formation that it it it made it it it to be an appropriate site for for for the the construction of the the fortress thus providing for a a a a a a a shield from the the enemy as as well as as offering a a a a a a a good view o of the the landscape around in in case of the approaching enemy which can be sighted with ease At the base of of this hill can be seen a a a a a a few settlements of of houses and and and people sitting and and and standing around in what appears to to be be a a a a a a a a a shallow water body The houses appear appear to to be be those of the working class particularly farmers The architecture is very simple and roofed by tiles A road cutting through shows herdsmen with their cattle There is smoke being emitted from the the corner of the the the fort wall as as well as as from the the the house on the the the extreme left where it is billowing out with with force In the the right foreground can be seen another house flanked by a a a a tree with with scarce foliage The topography of the place suggests that it was not dry and arid but sufficient greenery surrounded it The thick mass of of the the the foliage of of trees on the the the right as as as well as as as the the the green bushes that are interspersed in in between the the rock surfaces offers a a a a a The sky has the the stereotypical clouds which are both cumulus and striated Today the the country side looks a a a a a little different Although the the main buildings have fallen into disrepair the the the the line of of the the the the intricate fortifications can still be traced along the the the the contours of of the the the the great hills 265