Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

William Hodges toured India extensively between the years 1780 and 1783, having accompanied Captain Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific. Hodges prepared drawings and watercolours for his engravings, including 'Select views of Calcutta'. This painting is the first topographical view of the city, depicting the initial impression travellers would have seen as they sailed up the river Hooghly to approach the `City of Palaces'. Titled 'A View of Calcutta Taken from Fort William', the picture displays hallmarks of the classical Picturesque as represented by its balanced composition, harmonious colours and tranquil atmosphere. Pictures by Hodges often capture unique effects of light, a fleeting moment when fading sunlight illuminates particular buildings or landscape features. His 'View of Calcutta from Garden House Reach', for example, portrays dark monsoon clouds about to sweep across the sky above the Hooghly River, calm and milky white ...