The waterfall at Papanasam, Madras; view looking up the river Tambrapani, with steep, rocky and wooded banks, in foreground to right, two figures.
Watercolour, over graphite.

The Tambrapani is a sacred river and devout Hindus immerse themselves in the water below the falls; "Papanasam" means removal of sin.

Daniell visited the falls of Papanasam from 31 July to 2 August 1792; he produced up to fifteen views of the falls in oil, watercolour, graphite and as prints (see M. Shellim, The Daniells in India and the Waterfall at Papanasam, Calcutta, 1970, especially pp. 31-36 and 46)

Thomas Daniell (painter/draughtsman; British; Male; 1749 - 1840)
Also known as: Daniell, Thomas
Address: Howland Street Fitzroy Square
Biography:
Painter, draughtsman, and aquatinter of Indian scenes; b. Chertsey 1749; d. London 1840; began as a coach painter 1763-7 with Maxwell and then Catton; entered RA Schools 1773; exhibited RA 1774-84; to Canton and Calcutta 1786-93, accompanied by his nephews William and Samuel; executed drawings there which he then translated to one hundred fifty oil paintings in 1791; to southern India 1792; returned to England by 1794; published one hundred forty-four aquatints of 'Oriental Scenery' in six parts 1795-1808; became ARA 1796 and RA 1799; exhibited RA 1795-1820 and BI 1806-30; many drawings in the India Office Library.

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