Remains of an Ancient Building near Firoz Shah's Cotilla

Plate 7 from the first set of Thomas Daniell's 'Oriental Scenery.' In the 14th Century Delhi was the capital of the Tughluqs, powerful rulers whose kingdom encompassed almost all of the subcontinent. The citadel (Daniell's Cotilla or kotla) of Firuz Shah, on the river Jumna, was built by Firuz Shah Tughluq, who ruled between 1351 and 1388. The buildings in this aquatint no longer exist and the citadel is now in the south-east of modern Delhi. The course of the Jumna has now shifted eastwards. This view was reproduced on a Staffordshire earthenware dish around 1810-20.

"Remains of an Ancient Building near Firoz Shah's Cotilla, Delhi," by the Daniells, 1795*Source: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/LOTDETAIL.ASP?sid=&intObjectID=4572571&SE=CMWCAT03+100380+%2D1670814700+&QR=M+1+0+Aqc0000900+87711++Aqc0000900+&entry=india&SU=1&SN=7074&RQ=True&AN=1(downloaded Sept. 2005)THOMAS DANIELL (1749-1840) AND WILLIAM DANIELL (1769-1837). Remains of an Ancient Building near Firoz Shah's Cotilla, Delhi. Hand-coloured aquatint, drawn and engraved by Thomas Daniell, on thick Whatman paper(615 x 475mm to 650 x 490 mm), dated 1795, from part I of Thomas and William Daniell's Oriental Scenery, London: 1795-1797. A fine view from part I of the Daniell's magnificent Oriental Scenery. The Daniell's played a pre-eminent role in recording and documenting the country for European eyes."