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William Daniell, Interesting Selections from Animated Nature, with Illustrative Scenery; Designed and engraved by William Daniell, London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, not dated but [1807-1812]

2 volumes with 120 black and white aquatint plates printed oblong, each with accompanying descriptive letterpress; full leather bound with debossed gilted decorative pattern along with 5 raised bands on the spine, all edges gilt
37 x 28 x 4 cm (each)

William Daniell RA was an English landscape and marine painter, and printmaker, notable for his work in aquatint. He traveled extensively in India in the company of his uncle Thomas Daniell, with whom he collaborated on one of the finest illustrated works of the period, Oriental Scenery. He acquired his expertise in art, and specifically aquatint engraving, whilst apprenticed to his uncle Thomas, a renowned artist in his own right and pioneer in the development of the aquatint process in Britain.

Orphaned at an early age, William was adopted by his uncle and at about fifteen accompanied him to India where from 1785-1794 he worked as his assistant. He kept an extensive diary of their travels in India (1786-93) that reveals his own sketching strategies and his assistance in the finishing of his uncle's sketches and oil paintings, as well as details of Indian flora and fauna. Although departing on the tour as master and apprentice, by their return the Daniells were ostensibly partners, William having spent the years abroad receiving tuition and honing his artistic skills.

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